20 Socially Conscious Horror Movies
By Jenn Reid
The Crazies (1973)
The Issues: Biological weapons, a military state
The Movie:
Set in a small U.S. town, The Crazies follows two groups of people: the town’s residents and the U.S. military. David and Clank are two firefighters and Vietnam vets who are concerned for the small town that has been host to a series of violent events. David is especially concerned as his girlfriend, Judy, is pregnant.
Then, heavily armed troops roll up and take over the hospital where Judy works as a nurse. An Army plane had crashed near the town, infecting the water supply with an untested bioweapon that causes homicidal rage. The government is trying to contain the effects to the town, while scientists work to find a cure. They’re also prepared to destroy the town and everyone in it to contain the virus.
The army quarantines the town and shoots anyone who attempts to escape, leading to chaos. They herd everyone into the local high school, but villagers are infected by now and start attacking and killing the soldiers. David, Clank and Judy steal a van and try to escape town. Clank thinks he’s infected and kills more soldiers and lets himself be killed while Judy and David escape. Judy is now also infected and is killed by armed civilians. David turns himself in to the military.
The scientist believes he has found a cure, but soldiers believe he is infected and quarantine him while the ‘crazies’ destroy the lab. The army leaves and goes to the next town, which is also infected.
What It’s Saying:
Don’t trust the military, and bioweapons are a terrible thing that mankind should have never created.