2001 Maniacs (2005/Lionsgate Blu-ray)
Picture: C+ Sound: C+ Extras:
B- Film: C
Here we have 2001 Maniacs - Tim Sullivan's remake of the original Two
Thousand Maniacs! from 1964. That
after only six years, this new film already feels more dated than the one made
by H.G. Lewis nearly 50 years ago, speaks volumes of its poor construction.
The story follows three separate groups of people who follow a detour into the
town of Pleasant Valley, Georgia, where they are then
seduced and slaughtered in several ghoulish set pieces. The gore effects are somewhat creative, and
are at least well done - providing about the only reason to sit through this
film in its entirety.
It isn't even that all the elements of the film are so terribly bad. The plot is certainly no worse than other
movies of its type, and it worked well enough for the original. Having Robert Englund on hand is a plus, and
as stated, the gore proves to be not all that bad. It ends up boiling down to painfully stupid
dialogue and the repetitiveness of the gags. As with its recent sequel, the movie tries way
too hard to be funny, and ends up falling flat on its face - over, and over.
Video quality is decent, but for being a high def. release, it doesn't seem all
that much improved over a DVD. The image
is presented in 1080p and is anamorphically enhanced with a 1.78:1 aspect
ratio. Sound seems to be a little
subpar, but is free of the problems I had with the audio recording that is on
the sequel, Field of Screams. It
is presented in both 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio.
Bonus content includes two audio commentary tracks, a making-of featurette, and
deleted scenes, but there wasn't much to hold my interest in these extras.
2001 Maniacs is a movie that is
ultimately just too average, too plain. It left me indifferent, and while I didn't
detest it, I expect more from a horror film than what it has to offer. With so many other movies of this type out
there, I don't see it being worth the while of most audiences to spend time
checking out this one, unless they are so compelled to see every last one of
its kind.
I would highly recommend checking out the original and then feel out if you'd
want to proceed from there. Hopefully we
are soon treated to a Blu-ray of that film as well, as it is far more deserving
of the upgrade.
- David Milchick
