I greatly prefer this cleverly sustained and efficiently relentless remake to the '73 edition. It is lean and simple.

The big difference between Mr. Romero's film and Mr. Eisner's--which is so intelligent you fear the fanboys will scatter--is that Mr. Eisner never gives us the military's point of view. All we know is what David and Judy and Russell know, which for a long time isn't much. And The Crazies is all the scarier for it.

Does what an exploitation movie should: It gets in, it scares you silly, and it gets out, all while playing fair by the audience.

You may not remember The Crazies in a month, but you'll have a grand time watching it.

Part zombie movie, part apocalyptic bioterror, part military conspiracy thriller, the refit hybrid doesn't stint on the visceral kicks demanded by contemporary audiences while remaining reasonably true to those Romero roots.