2001 MANIACS

Three oversexed teens leave their college history class (following an enjoyable cameo from the excellent Peter Stormare, FARGO; CONSTANTINE) and set off for a summer vacation at Daytona Beach.

Unfortunately, they attempt a short cut and follow a makeshift detour that leads them to a strange town in the Deep South - Pleasant Valley.

There, they are greeted by the zealous Mayor Buckman (Robert Englund, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET), who advises them that the town is in the throes of a celebration and the travellers are to be their guests of honour.

Initially reluctant, the boys accept the invitation when they realise the town boasts a bevy of buxom beauties - led by the sultry Peaches (Wendy Kremer, NO PILLS IN HAPPYLAND), just itching to get inside their pants.

Shortly afterwards, more wayward young tourists arrive, and agree to stay for the promised fine food and free ale.

But it's not long before members of the eight-strong guest-list begin to get lured away one by one by the seemingly horny locals, never to be seen again ...

And so events unfold in satisfyingly brisk fashion, with our attractive cast being systematically enticed into the neighbouring woods in the hope of meaningless sex - only to become the subjects of some rousing gore set-pieces.

2001 MANIACS is essentially an AMERICAN PIE movie, but with gore as the punchline. Where once we may have giggled at someone gluing his hand to his dick, here we guffaw when a woman ruins fellatio by inserting huge metal fangs into her mouth at the crucial moment.

Taking it's cue from Herschell Gordon Lewis' classic splatter film 2000 MANIACS, Tim Sullivan's (DRIFTWOOD) "remake" keeps the manic tone of the original while throwing in enough fresh ideas to keep things interesting.

The racism is more overt this time. Buckman almost chokes at the prospect of remaining hospitable to a black man and his Oriental girlfriend, while the tourists' mockery of Pleasant Valley's seemingly simple backwoods folk adds an interesting moral conundrum for anyone hoping to sympathise with them.

The final third of the film veers wildly away from Lewis' potboiler too, upping the ante considerably in the action stakes before bringing things home with a traditionally malicious twist ending.

A couple of nice touches from the original do remain: the signature tune, "The South Is Gonna Rise Again", is used to good effect; the first murder scene - a woman torn apart by horses pulling in different directions - is pure Lewis too.

Speaking of which, the FX are very good - and thankfully free from any CGI interference.

2001 MANIACS is ultimately an innocuous horror comedy with a good-looking cast, speedy pace, polished production values and a keen eye for light-hearted exploitation thrills. Oh, and lots of pert breasts!

Lion's Gate's disc presents the film in it's original 1.78:1 aspect ratio, anamorphically enhanced for 16x9 TV sets. It looks great, from the moment the stylish sepia-tinted credits begin, to the slick day-lit end.

Audio is available in both 2.0 and 5.1 and both sound great. Removable English and Spanish subtitles are available.

The film can be accessed via 14 chapters. Attractive animated menus give way to some satisfying extras.

First up is a 41-minute, multi-chapter featurette on the making of the film. Most of the cast and crew are interviewed, including Eli Roth (CABIN FEVER; HOSTEL), who has a cameo and acted as executive producer. John Landis (AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON) also hangs out on set offering his welcome outlandish humour. But this is Sullivan's show. He proves himself to be a likeable, knowledgeable and enthusiastic horror buff, keen to bring something fun and fan-oriented to the screen.

Two commentary tracks offer fun accounts of the production. The first is from Sullivan and Englund and is the better of the two. Both keep proceedings fluent, so we never get bored with their banter. The second commentary track is by Sullivan, with co-writer Chris Kobin and co-producer Chris Tuffin.

Next are no less than 37 outtakes classified as either deleted, alternate or extended scenes. The best of these is the alternate opening featuring performances from Landis and legendary producer David F Friedman (BLOOD FEAST; 2000 MANIACS).

Audition reels and a trailer fill out the disc. Oh, and there's also a handful of trailers for other Lion's Gate titles - HEEBIE JEEBIES, OLD MAN RIVER etc.

It's a nice disc for an enjoyable film. My only suspicion is that, as satisfying as the film is in its current state. there may be an extended, unrated cut looming - if sales warrant it. Having said that, the unrated featurette material doesn't hint at any unseen footage ...

A neat little contemporary horror-comedy with a tad more gore than what Multiplex audiences may be used to. It doesn't approach Lewis' excesses, but offers enough to entertain within a tidy 83 minute running time. And Lion's Gate's disc is equally good.

Recommended party viewing.

Review by Stu Willis