In most horror movies, there is an underlying code to it's creation that states characters must interact carelessly with their surroundings. They must be fearless, unaware of the context, even blatantly stupid. Nowadays movies parody this, with the black guy dying first no matter what and the girl trying thousand keys to ignite the engine before the killer grasps her. They laugh at themselves. "The Crazies" should.
Seeing "The Crazies" reminded me of this. Even though the situation is abominably terrifying, they enter houses and check on places assuming it's safe. Rotating camera angles later reveal, to our surprise, they aren't. They walk the highway even if it is where they will most likely be seen. They reactions elicit the situations; and we all understand it would be boring otherwise; but when there is no fear in the characters it's hard to identify.
Of course, every time they are in danger a miracle bullet saves the day at the last second. The characters die in the order one who has seen at least a movie of the genre would expect, and in the fashion you'd imagine. There is an everlasting seduction in seeing apocalyptic America, in the "what if" of the end of the world (or the town in this case), sure. But Breck Eisner could only go that far; considering the characters he received. They should start being more conscious by now, or at least blame screenwriters who keep on putting them on those spots.
Seeing "The Crazies" reminded me of this. Even though the situation is abominably terrifying, they enter houses and check on places assuming it's safe. Rotating camera angles later reveal, to our surprise, they aren't. They walk the highway even if it is where they will most likely be seen. They reactions elicit the situations; and we all understand it would be boring otherwise; but when there is no fear in the characters it's hard to identify.
Of course, every time they are in danger a miracle bullet saves the day at the last second. The characters die in the order one who has seen at least a movie of the genre would expect, and in the fashion you'd imagine. There is an everlasting seduction in seeing apocalyptic America, in the "what if" of the end of the world (or the town in this case), sure. But Breck Eisner could only go that far; considering the characters he received. They should start being more conscious by now, or at least blame screenwriters who keep on putting them on those spots.