The movie Death Race, released in 2008, seems to be based loosely on the movie of the same name made in 1975. That said, there were many big differences that made it clear that this movie was less of a remake and more of a film that just drew inspiration from the earlier film.
In the year 2012 the American economy has collapsed (not a completely far-fetched scenario given the current state of affairs). Money is hard to come by these days. Jensen Ames, a former NASCAR driver, has been having a hard time and even spent a few years in prison. Once he got out of prison, he’s started to make ends meet and even met a woman named Suzy and ended up having a baby girl.
One day he loses his job and upon arriving home, finds his wife brutally murdered. Jensen is framed for the murder and is sent to a high security prison run by a brutal female warden who uses prisoners for profit.
Prisoners are allowed to drive in brutal races with only one winner at the end. In order to get out to be released from prison, the racer must win five races.
Jensen is given the chance to take the place of ‘Frankenstein’, a masked racer who’s already won four races. With just one win, Jensen will be given his freedom. Despite not wanting to play the system, Jensen accepts because he doesn’t want anyone but himself to raise his baby daughter.
As you would expect, Death Race is filled with many action scenes, brutal violence and tons of explosions. The graphics were well done but sometimes a little over the top. The audio quality was top notch, making just as strong an impression as the special effects.
One unexpected component to the film was the little comedic moments that had the audience laughing with a witty line every once in a while. This effectively turned what might otherwise be a mindless violence film into a well balanced action flick.
The storyline is decent although cheesy and predictable to some extent. The racing, combat, humour and action will surely entertain a certain crowd.
If you’re looking for an in depth storyline or highly developed characters, Death Race might not be for you. On the other hand, if you enjoy action films with great special effects and great sound effects, Death Race is likely a film you’ll enjoy. Also without going into the details, Death Race also featured a great ending.
