Today’s quick review: Death Race 2000. In the year 2000, five of the best drivers in America gather for a cross-country road race where they earn points by running down pedestrians. The favorite is Frankenstein (David Carradine), a masked racer whose many crashes have left him disfigured. With his new navigator Annie Smith (Simone Griffeth), he goes up against his hotheaded rival Joe Viterbo (Sylvester Stallone), a scheming band of rebels, and 3,000 miles of open road.
Death Race 2000 is an action movie that pushes the trend of violence in films to sadistic extremes. The movie combines tacky cars, gory kills, and a barebones plot to produce an odd yet moderately influential entry into the action genre. Remade in 2008 as Death Race, starring Jason Statham, the original introduces such concepts as Frankenstein, the patchwork racer, and a grim future where violence and racing meet to entertain America.
Beyond its premise, Death Race 2000 has little going for it. The race proper has no twist to it, just a cavalcade of empty miles of highway, unfortunate pedestrians, and sabotage attempts by a gang of rebels. The characters fare a little better, at least once the focus shifts from the field of gimmick racers to Frankenstein and Annie. The story, though short and predictable, is adequate by the standards of the genre.
As for the action, Death Race 2000’s bark is worse than its bite. The driving offers speed but little else, and even then the accelerated footage is obvious. The kills are bloody but brief, flashes of gore that shock but do not linger. One or two other action scenes give the movie a bit of variety, but none are enough to make the film satisfying as an action film, putting undue weight on the mediocre plot and characters.
Though billed as a satire, Death Race 2000 sends mixed messages about violence. On the one hand, it skewers media violence by robbing it of its satisfaction. The kills are senseless and brutal, with none of the glamor or justification they normally receive in action films. On the other hand, the movie relies on violence for most of its excitement. What humor there is is too dry to act as tiebreaker, so these conflicting trends are never reconciled.
Watch Death Race 2000 if you are interested in an old school entry into the death game genre. Though outclassed by its spiritual successors and its remake, Death Race 2000 offers a glimpse into the early days of a thriving family of action movies, translating into cult appeal for some. Viewers looking for action violence are better off watching Death Race, Battle Royale, or Smokin’ Aces, while those looking for satire should check out Demolition Man or Judge Dredd.
6.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 5.5 for decent execution with significant flaws.