Death Race 2000
Amazon.co.uk Review
Death Race 2000, Paul Bartel’s 1975 cheapo satire about a futuristic international sport–an anything-goes car race where drivers score points for hitting pedestrians–stars David Carradine as a hero behind the wheel and Sylvester Stallone as his nemesis. The film is clever and macabre enough as a modernist satire, but finally overplays its hand in grim, decadent humour. The sets are gloriously artificial, and former Andy Warhol-star Mary Woronov is in sexy, comic form. –Tom Keogh
I’ve ridiculed many a Roger Corman film in my time, but I have nothing but love for his 1975 B-movie triumph Death Race 2000 (although, to be fair, most of the credit should go to director Paul Bartel). In this brilliant black comedy satire, Corman gives us what we want – fast cars, hot naked gals, and lots of glorified violence, not to mention brilliant performances by David Carradine and a pre-Rambo Sylvester Stallone – and all with a budget of only 300 grand.
In this futuristic vision of the year 2000, America has devolved into something of a fascist police state called the United Provinces, ruled from overseas by Mr. President (Sandy McCallum) who, like all good dictators, has established an external outlet for whatever bloodlust, anger, and general discontent that may exist among the populace. Enter the Transcontinental Road Race, better known as the Death Race. Now in its 20th iteration, this fierce competition pits the greatest, most fearless drivers in the land racing from New York to New Los Angeles. Lest any visions of Cannonball Run threaten to run your head, know this: the beauty of the Death Race is the fact that extra points are awarded for any and all innocent spectators you kill along the way, with children and seniors bringing in the most points (if you don’t think this is great fun, you haven’t played any of the games in the Carmageddon series, which count among my favorite games of all time).
This year’s contestants are Nero the Hero, Matilda the Hun (with Representative Fred “Gopher” Grandy as her navigator Herman the German), Calamity Jane Kelly, Machine-Gun Joe Viterbo (Sylvester Stallone), and the fan favorite, Frankenstein (David Carradine). Frankenstein is something of a mystery man, his mask and cowl hiding a body that has had more parts replaced than your grandfather’s beat-up old pickup. He and Machine-Gun Joe are bitter rivals, but this year the greatest threat Frankenstein faces is a plot by the Resistance, led by Thomasina Paine (Harriet Medin), to put an end to the barbaric race once and for all (using – wouldn’t you know it? – barbaric methods of their own).
From euthanasia day at the hospital to the wickedly tripped-out cars designed for human carnage as well as speed, Death Race 2000 is a tour de force of B-movie entertainment. The sociopolitical statement the film makes is also very real and important, but I’ll leave the interpretation of all that to the individual viewer. Carradine’s amazing, Stallone’s a brilliant bonus, the supporting cast make hay with even the smallest of parts (The Real Don Steele, anyone?), and Simone Griffeth is fun to watch both in and out of her clothes (and I haven’t even mentioned the whole French Air Force thing). Death Race 2000 is the epitome of cult classic.
Rating: 5 / 5
Although the effects aren’t great, and nor is the acting, this film has what many lack – fun. it is entertaining for the duration of the movie, and its an original idea. definitely worth seeing.
Rating: 4 / 5
Death Race 2000 was recommended to me by a friend who said that it was a similar film to Rollerball. It is not similar at all, apart from the emotionally cold distopian setting and a desensitised, almost comic, attitude to extreme violence. Rollerball is a dark masterpiece, DR2000 is a fun throwaway classic. The film is very amateurishly made, but that’s most of it’s charm.
The setting of DR2000 is a futuristic society in the year 2000. Mr President keeps the emotionally cold population of America happy by running the Annual Transcontinental Death Race across America. Champions Frankenstein, Machine Gun Joe Viterbo (young Sylvester Stallone) and Calamity Jane compete to acquire the most points and win the game. Meanwhile rebel forces try to sabotage the race and destroy the president’s rein. It’s far too clumsy to work as a social satire, but it’s still a very memorable and enjoyable film. DR2000 has been frequently compared to an adult version of Wacky Races, and it’s easy to see why. You get ludicrous characters with silly names driving sillier cars, big explosions, and bad acting. Some parts seem to be stolen directly from a Roadrunner cartoon.
Death Race 2000 is one of the best exploitation films of the 1970’s. The horrifying idea of running over pedestrians for points has now passed into legend, and the whole high camp look of this film – the unreal bright red paint for blood, the 70’s porn funk soundtrack, the sped up shots of cars fitted with horns, spikes and go faster stripes rushing past the camera make this the greatest B movie ever made. It’s not in the least subtle, but it’s excellent entertainment, and I will never tire of watching this film. At only 78 minutes long it’s a great movie to stick on with friends while waiting to go out and get some good laughs, without outstaying it’s welcome. If you want thoughtful sci fi satire – steer clear. However if you enjoy entertaining 1970’s sci fi films like Westworld, or the Omega Man, or if you want some dumb 1970’s low budget thrills then you can’t go wrong with Death Race 2000.
Rating: 4 / 5
Contrary to other postings this was not a “B” movie but the “A” feature. It was a very low budget movie, $300k when a big studio was spending $4m on a main feature. The cost savings are sometimes obvious. Back in the seventies (when I viewed the movie at the cinema) it was an 18 and promoted as a horror film. On the screening I attended at least 75% of the audience left before the end. They had come to see blood and gore and were clearly disappointed. You can tell how disappointed as the film now only rates a 15 on video. Now do not misunderstand, not a movie my sensitive daughter would sit through and she is over the age for this video. The nudity is also an issue so I do not think it is suitable for a 15 but others may disagree (the board of classification clearly disagree with me). That said, do not buy this video if you want to be scared, it really is not that sort of film. It is however a good black comedy and if viewed in that way does really entertain. What a pity the original promotion of the film concentrated on the violence.
This movie is very entertaining but not frightening. It is also a film you will either love or hate.
The low budget shows in the cars, the special effects and the sets. But to be fare, if you compared it with other 70’s films all the aforementioned are remarkable given the low budget. None of that matters really as nearly 35 years later it still entertains.
Rating: 3 / 5
A cracking little film!
Created a great deal of press attention at the time of its cinema release…back in the days when a 6 week hype campaign were the norm.
Even that bastion of trash ‘Titbits’ magazine ran a colour spread!
Stallone excells as Machine Gun Joe Viterbo, as does Carradine as Frankenstein.
Even the dreadful continuity ( check the attack scene, involving the French air force) doesn’t detract from the films energy and gusto.
Don’t expect a digitally remastered version on DVD though…its still as grainy as a bag of rice.
Apparently, a new version of this film..imaginatively titled Death Race 3000 is due to grace our screens soon, but it’ll have to go some to beat the cornball splendour of this gem.
Rating: 5 / 5