Three Reasons Why You Need To Watch Death Race 2000
Poster of Death Race 2000 (IMDB)
What do a masked villain, a neo-nazi, a cowgirl, a roman gladiator, and a machine gun touting Sylvester Stallone have in common? They’re ready to compete in the 20th edition of the Transcontinental Road Race, or ‘Formula One for Sickos’ as I like to call it. A coast-to-coast competition of vehicular homicide.
This is Paul Bartel’s Death Race 2000 (1975).
The Los Angeles Times named Death Race 2000 as one of the essential films to seek out from the late and legendary filmmaker Roger Corman (director of Little Shop of Horrors (1960), and producer of such cult-horror hits as Chopping Mall (1986)). It’s no surprise why. With a series of sequels made for the modern era, this 70s exploitation flick is a balls-to-the-wall, bonkers slice of criminally underseen popcorn cinema.
Here’s what you need to know:
Death Race 2000 is not just fun, it’s hilarious
Carle Bensen as 'Harold' detailing the points system
Subtlety is not exactly Death Race 2000’s strong suit. Then again, why should it be? My thumb had barely hit ‘play’ before seeing extras gleefully wave swastika flags at their favourite fascist racer ‘Matilda the Hun’. Part of the appeal is the fundamentally brazen, outlandish, and cartoonishly degenerative world. You might think that the entire premise evokes recent franchise films like The Purge or even The Hunger Games series’ where a totally-not-fascistic government steps in to control the population, and you’re not wrong. It’s shocking, sure, yet it feels like all the silliness is at least not without satire. The president of the United States is just blatantly named ‘Mr President’. That’s just what people call him, seriously.
It would make a glorious double-bill with Mad Max (1979)
David Carradine as 'Frankenstein'
There appears to be some disagreement over which picture kicked off the apocalyptic road film genre, this year’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga being the latest entry. Heather Wintle’s thesis ‘Wandering into the Wasteland: White American Masculinities in the Apocalyptic Science Fiction Road Narrative’ affirms 1975 as a natural starting point based on the convergent release of films like Death Race 2000 and A Boy and His Dog (1975). Whilst the more notable Mad Max postdates Bartel’s movie by four years, a film which really cemented the genre, they both have their own unique flairs. Sufficiently different, but complementary, and not just for that 1970s aesthetic feel either. Jumping from the Loony Tunes-esque exploitation of the USA to the road warriors of Australia should feel like an intercontinental tour of engine-revving delight.
Ultra-violence is the name of the game
Sylvester Stallone as 'Machine Gun Joe' firing...well...yeah.
Who could’ve possibly predicted that a film titled Death Race 2000 would contain a smidge of gore? With a healthy death count (33, if you’re curious), there’s plenty of opportunity for body-splattering in its succinct 80 minute runtime. In fact, upon release, the UK gave the film an ‘X’ rating and cut out a particularly gnarly moment. Any guesses as to what that might’ve been? Let’s just say to not get ahead of yourself whilst speculating. Regardless, you can watch the uncut version now with all the glorious explosions and civilian slaughter perfectly intact.
To be honest, I’m surprised you’re not watching the film already. What are you still doing reading this? Grab your best mates and buckle up for one of the most deliriously entertaining hours of your life.
(As of the time of publication, Death Race 2000 is available in the UK on Amazon Prime, with pre-owned DVDs and Blu-Rays available for as low as £5)
