Death Race 2000 [DVD] [1975]

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.

Melodramatic and kitsch: almost a farce at times and overlooking reality the whole of the way through..

But it's a brilliant and highly intelligent film all the same.

With great 70's music, a bit of titillation and a smattering of gore- there's no pussy-footing around.

It's all done with the blackest of black humour: there's the usual message about too much violence in society and at times it's almost anti-American in the send-up of American institutions The presenters are larger than life and the appearance of "Mr President in his Summer Palace in Peking" is inspirational.

In this alternative future, most of the world is an American totalitarian state where the real power is with the secret police. The race is there to placate the population. The drivers are adored by the public but the drivers, far from being important are expendable and replaceable. Shades of Rollerball but done with a wry smile.

The snippets of info on the future are just enough to keep you wondering and there's even hints of a American-European rift (the French Airforce mention is especially funny).

The film sets up a fast pace from the off with an intro to the drivers & their cars:
Calamity Jane
Matilda the Hun
Nero
Machine gun Joe (Sylvester Stallone is a natural in only his 2nd feature film).
Frankenstein (David Carradine)

Good DVD extras too