Movie Review - Death Race 2050

Death Race 2050

(2017)

Universal 1440 Entertainment / New Horizons Picture : Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

8.25 / 10

Way back in 1975 Roger Corman gave us the great Death Race 2000 which introduced us to race car driver Frankenstein in a dystopian future where vehicular manslaughter gets the driver points.  In 1978 Corman gave us Deathsport a similar concept and once again starring John Carradine.  In some countries, this released under Death Race 2050, though it wasn't a sequel.

Now in 2017 Corman is back with the real deal.

And what a deal it is.  The Death Race is still running and the United Corporations of America are making the money off the back of the games.  Frankenstein is still unhappy with his role as the favourite and the puppet of The Chairman; all he wants to do is race... he's a racecar driver.  The Chairman, knowing Frankenstein's feelings has arranged for a replacement in a genetically perfect human, Jed Perfectus.  Then there are the rebels who are tired of being controlled by the corporations and decide to fight back by attacking the race and the drivers.

What director and writer G J Echternkamp, along with fellow writer Matt Yamashita bring the audience is a wonderful satire wrapped up in a schlocky B-Movie.  I particularly loved the crappy in car scenes where they go back to the 70's style of screen driving... the actors sit in a stationary car while the landscape plays behind them on green-screen.

There are some nice story elements which bring the film up-to-date.  In this race, the drivers have a passenger.  The passenger is the gateway for the virtual reality ridealongs.  This is a nice addition as it allows for a building of characters, whereas the first movie was more race and kill based.

Malcolm McDowell is brilliant as The Chairman, camping it up whenever possible... and you have to love that hair.  Though it's Manu Bennett as Frankenstein that steals the show.  John Carradine was good but Bennett adds a little more depth to the character and I like his portrayal the better of the two.

If you ever wondered what the great thing about B-movies was or what a makes a good Roger Corman production then give this film a view.

If you like funny films with a story and a point of view then give this a view.

If you want a good night in with a good film... then give this a view.

And sing with Minerva Jefferson and myself...  Drive, Drive, Drive,.  Kill, Kill, Kill.  Drive.  Kill.  Drive.  Kill.  Drive.  Kill.  Drive.  Kill.