It may be hard at first for viewers to believe the director of “Sahara,” that dopey Matthew McConaughey action-adventure film, could actually craft an effective horror. Well, that is just what director Breck Eisner did. Only this time, instead of treasure hunters, he directs a population of blood-thirsty Iowa residents in “The Crazies.”

OK, so we have seen this film before. Although, never this sophisticated. The film is an improvement on George A. Romero’s tame 1973 version. While the film treads familiar territory, it finds a few surprises along the way. “The Crazies” is a perfectly adequate genre film that contains all the elements you would expect to find in a zombie picture.

Lethal virus with murderous after effects. Check. Isolated location. Check. Small band of relentless heroes delivering a series of hokey one-liners. You get the point.

However, Eisner manages to craft the film with a quiet confidence, generating a sense of mood, tension and style not regularly present in this genre. Oh, and not to mention some impressively creepy set pieces. Eisner spoils the audience silly with an abundance of cinematic goodies.

Of the inhabitants of the tranquil Ogden Marsh, we meet Sheriff David Dutton (a very convincing Timothy Olyphant), his deputy Russell Clank (Joe Anderson), Dr. Judy Dutton (the extremely underrated Radha Mitchell) and several other curiously friendly townsfolk. When the town drunk walks out onto the local baseball field carrying a loaded shotgun, Sheriff Dutton attempts to reason with him. When diplomacy fails, Dutton is forced to shoot and kill him. Ironically, no alcohol is found in the man’s blood during his autopsy report, causing people to scratch their heads in disbelief. That is until a series of similar murderous acts transpire from the most unlikely residents.

Could the unusual behavior these individuals are exercising be the result of a mutating virus that takes control of their minds and manipulates them into performing such horrific acts? Oh come on, that was not a spoiler. This is what you are paying to see, people. As the story goes, people will be infected, loved ones will die, a few will survive and the source of all the chaos will be revealed. So why should you see the film, you ask?

Well, Eisner takes the familiar aspects of the genre, blows off the dust particles and adds some much needed polish. The production value is rather convincing, small and confined, dark and ominous, tranquil and lurid. The eerie set pieces are complimented with a chillingly somber and lingering score.

The writers invested enough time in the characters, allowing the actors to stimulate spurts of genuine emotion and depth. Anderson is especially effective when he exudes a sense of heroism in the third act. The premise, while not especially elaborate, is often intriguing and thoughtful without being too silly or clichéd.

As for the crazies, well they are par for the course. There is enough blood and gore to satisfy the juvenile and enough brains to satisfy the intellectuals. The film has all the qualities of a sufficient popcorn movie. For audiences to miss out on this shamelessly effective and well crafted splatter fest would be, well, crazy.