Death Race (2008)

August 22, 2008 (United States)September 26, 2008 (United Kingdom)November 27, 2008 (Germany)

August 22, 2008 (United States)
September 26, 2008 (United Kingdom)
November 27, 2008 (Germany)

Death Race is a 2008 American dystopian action thriller film written and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. It stars Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson, Ian McShane and Joan Allen.

Though referred to as a remake of the 1975 film Death Race 2000 (which in turn is based on Ib Melchior's short story "The Racer") in reviews and marketing materials, director Paul W. S. Anderson stated in the DVD commentary that he thought of the film as something of a prequel.

A remake had been in development since 2002, though production was delayed by disapproval of early screenplays, then placed in turnaround following a dispute between Paramount Pictures and the producer duo Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner (the latter was the producer without Cruise in the film). Death Race was acquired by Universal Studios, and Anderson re-joined the project to write and direct. Filming began in Montreal in August 2007, and the completed project was released on August 22, 2008. The film received mixed reviews from critics.

Three direct-to-video films in the series were then released: Death Race 2, Death Race 3: Inferno and Death Race: Beyond Anarchy.

Storyline

In 2012, the US economy's collapse and rising crime rates led to increased privatized prisons, including Terminal Island Penitentiary. Warden Claire Hennessey profits from broadcasting "Death Race," where inmates race modified, armed cars on a trap-filled track to win their freedom.

In 2020, during the final event, masked driver Frankenstein nears the finish, chased by rival Machine Gun Joe. His navigator, Case, says his weapons malfunctioned. Despite her protests, Frankenstein, close to freedom, refuses to let Joe win. Case ejects before Joe destroys the car with a rocket launcher, killing Frankenstein.

Industrial worker and ex-con Jensen Ames struggles to support his family. When the steel mill he works at closes and a riot breaks out, he returns home to his wife, Suzy, and their newborn, Piper. A masked attacker knocks him out. Jensen wakes with a bloodied knife, Suzy dead nearby, and police arrest him. Framed for murder, he's sentenced to life, and Piper goes into foster care.

Six months later, Jensen is transferred to Terminal Island Prison. Warden Hennessey's second-in-command, Ulrich, calls Jensen to her office. Hennessey reveals that Frankenstein had died from his injuries and offers Jensen freedom in exchange for standing in for Frankenstein at one event. Jensen accepts the offer and meets Frankenstein's crew, which consists of prison volunteer Coach, fellow inmates Gunner, and Lists. They suspect Hennessey wants him to become the new Frankenstein to regain audience and profits, which have dwindled since Frankenstein's absence.

On the first day of the three-day event, Jensen meets his navigator, Case. During the race, his vehicle's defensive equipment malfunctions again. Jensen sees Pachenko make the same gesture as the masked assailant and realizes Pachenko killed his wife. Distracted, Jensen is blindsided by Joe and finishes last. After the race, Jensen attacks Pachenko, who admits Hennessey ordered him to frame Jensen to replace Frankenstein. Ulrich then incapacitates Jensen before he can kill Pachenko.

On the second day, Jensen threatens to eject Case unless she explains the truth about the malfunctions. Case admits she was offered release papers in exchange for sabotaging Frankenstein's car to keep him from winning. Jensen tricks Pachenko into slamming his car into a concrete barrier and then kills him by snapping his neck. Hennessey releases the "Dreadnought", a multi-weapon tanker, to make races exciting. After it massacres most racers, Jensen and Joe destroy it by luring it into a trap, enraging Hennessey. The day ends with Jensen and Joe as the only survivors.

Aware that Jensen knows it was she who set him up, Hennessey orders Ulrich to plant a bomb underneath Jensen's car. She offers Jensen rewards to keep racing as Frankenstein, which he rejects. Jensen approaches Joe and proposes cooperation.

In the final race, Hennessey manipulates the track to weaken Jensen's offensive and defensive abilities, allowing Joe to chip away at his armor. Joe misses with a rocket at Jensen, destroying part of the wall they both drive through, revealing their escape plan. They reach the mainland bridge. Hennessey and Ulrich, seeing Joe and Jensen fleeing, shut down the Death Race livestream and send patrol cruisers after them, also disabling their vehicle weapons. Hennessey tries to activate the bomb, but Coach has already deactivated and removed it.

Hennessey's helicopters pursue Jensen to a railway depot, where he jumps out of the car as Case takes his place, wearing a Frankenstein mask. While the pursuers catch Case, Joe and Jensen escape on a freight train. Hennessey is pleased with the ratings and opens a present, revealing the bomb meant for Jensen. Coach remotely detonates the bomb, killing Hennessey and Ulrich.

Six months later, Joe and Jensen are mechanics in Mexico, with Piper in Jensen's custody. They reunite with Case, who won a muscle car in a card game, and stays with them.

Also See

Movie Trailer

  • Death Race (2008) (Trailers)

Sound Effects Used

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