From director Tim Sullivan, who directed his first horror short in 1985 entitled A Christmas Treat, comes a full-length revision that has, to me, risen above most others. 

                    

 

     Let me just start off by telling you, when it comes to the perfect mixture of horror and comedy, man did this movie hit the bulls eye! Three small groups of young people, heading out on vacation for spring break, find themselves taking a detour from the main highway and ending up in the town of Pleasant Valley (seemingly untouched, since the civil war), population of 2001. 

 

     Greeted upon arrival by the insanely joyous towns folk, the three groups (8 people in all) decide to stay, suckered in by the towns wonderful, southern hospitality.  But of course, why would they want to leave and miss out on the grand Guts and Glory Jubilee, and the mouth watering B.B.Q.  But guess what (or who) is on the main course? Brilliantly filmed, with a perfect mixture of Splat Stick humor, flat out creepiness and high-powered gore; this film is one of the best revisions I've seen in a long time.

 

     The director Tim Sullivan, co-writer Chris Kobin and co-producer Eli Roth (director of Cabin Fever and hostel) have put together, what I feel to be a masterpiece in the horror/comedy genre.  First I felt (despite what most people feel about him) that Eli Roth and Dr. Mambos cameo (sorry a little teaser) was absolutely hysterical, and a great little shits and giggles toss in.  I, myself was a big fan of Cabin Fever.  Hate the player, not the game!!

 

     In no way will this revision ever beat the shock and sickness of the original 2000 Maniacs, directed by H.G. Lewis.  But however, they have definitely triumphed in their attempt to pay homage to the Godfather of Gore. Upon my first viewing of this film I could not believe my eyes.  Some of the crazy and outlandishly gory kills were so viciously splattered into my face. I almost literally had to wipe the blood from my eyes, and the tears for that matter, from laughing hysterically.

 

     As for the cast, Robert Englund and Lyn Shaye, portraying Major Buckman and Granny Boone, were absolutely fantastic.  In my opinion, I found that this movie brought out some of the best in both of them.  Englund was, just as he always will be, one sick and twisted S.O.B.  Lyn Shaye is probably one of the most under-rated actresses around.  From films like Critters, Alone in the Dark, Dead End and Detroit Rock City, she is always just plain, flat out fantastic.

 

     When it comes to the rest of the cast, I cant say that they were all that great.  However the bad acting added to the films charm, not to mention that its a revision of a Lewis film, which we horror fans know didn't always, or ever for that matter, have the best actors in them.  Ill tell you though, some of them were so annoying that I just could not wait to see them meet their demise.

 

Now for the ratings:

 

The Scenery for the film was cool as shit!  It really gave that old, southern town feel, which was quite imperative to the film.  This gets my rating of a 7.

 

The sound of course was great, being a larger budget film (they had good equipment).  And having used the original score written by H.G. Lewis, which is just awesome, in my opinion.  Sound and score get a definite 9.

 

As for the acting, like I said, Englund and Shaye were great.  The rest of the cast on the other hand, was not so great, with a few exceptions.  Some of the towns folk were cool as hell, and just plain nuts.  I particularly liked the character Harper (Giuseppe Andrews who starred in Detroit Rock City and Cabin Fever).  The acting gets my rating of a 7.  Just for those three characters alone.

 

The gore was phenomenal.  Blood and Guts splattered everywhere.  Eyeballs popping, beheadings, and ass eating, man that's good stuff! (And there's much, much more).  The gore gets a big 10.

 

2001 Maniacs, gets my overall rating of a 9. 

 

For fans of Lewis films, Blood Sucking Freaks, Dead End, or even Shaun of the Dead or anyone out for just a fun sick flick, add this to your list of must owns.  Its a hoot of a good time.

"The South Will Rise Again"