Every once in a while, a movie comes along that balances excessive violence with a clear purpose and a poignant message. "Death Race" is not one of those movies. Besides containing enough bone-crushing action to merit the label of "torture flick," the film doesn't bring the political satire it purports to deliver.
"Death Race," directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, is a remake and reboot of the 1975 movie "Death Race 2000." In "DR2000," the national sport had become a cross country race in which drivers score points for hitting pedestrians. Anderson's version takes the same character names and basic concept and applies the situation to prisons. A destroyed American economy has allowed private corporations to run the prisons and milk them for profit.
The film begins with a race in its last leg, with driver Frankenstein in first, and driver Machine Gun Joe (played by Tyrese Gibson) using … well, machine guns to try to regain the lead. Unfortunately for Frankenstein, whose voice (like that in the 1975 version) is done by David Carradine, his armor is low and he is subsequently blown to pieces.
Fast-forward to a steel mill where Jensen Ames (Jason Statham) is laid off and is collecting his last paycheck. He returns home to his wife Suzy and his daughter, only to be knocked out and framed with her murder. After being sentenced with a considerable amount of jail time, Ames is sent to a prison run by Warden Hennessy (Joan Allen). In order to increase her profits, she runs The Death Race, a pay-per-view Internet sensation that garners millions of viewers. Hennessy tells Ames that if he races as crowd-favorite Frankenstein and wins one race, he will be set free.
The rest of the film revolves around the prison rivalry between the racers, as well as the building of cars and the races themselves. The competition consists of three parts spread over three days, which is enough time for riders to bicker, complain and form ‘alliances.' The raceway is equipped with "Mario Kart"-style powerups that allow drivers to perform offense- or defense-based maneuvers. The track also contains booby traps that cause instant death, and shortcuts for the drivers who like to cheat.
For anyone who hasn't gotten the hint that this film is incredibly graphic, look no further than the edited scenes in the trailer. The shot cuts away just before the gore, but it's easy to picture exactly what goes on in the next frame. Besides blood and guts, the film is filled with profanity for no apparent reason, including Allen's infamous character-shattering line: "Listen c-cksucker, f-ck with me and we'll see who sh-ts on a sidewalk." The film desperately tries to be a cautionary tale, as Anderson sets the film in 2012 and prefaces the feature with opening title cards that explain the country's state of despair and the greed of the private companies.
The acting is typical Statham: a gruffly-voiced tough guy who has a soft spot in his heart for his loved ones. This is the same character he plays in most of his movies, and it is quickly getting worn-out. The rest of the cast does a fairly good job, but their efforts are marred by the complete tackiness of each line. The film doesn't leave much to be desired in terms of cinematography or editing, though none of that really resonates with the audience due to the overwhelming cheese factor.
The problem is that "Death Race" doesn't seem to know what it wants to be. The plot is nearly nonexistent, the gore is superfluous, and the suspense is almost too much to handle. It's not really scary, and it's not really funny, so what is it? The film lingers in a state somewhere between cheesy action flick and sadistic dystopian carnage. For fans of fast cars, bloodshed and mindless action, however, "Death Race" will leave you salivating for more.
