Program Note
In a totalitarian regime of future America (in the year 2000), the most popular sport is the Road Race, with each team earning points for mowing down innocent victims to death. The race is led by two ruthless riders named Frankenstein and Machine Gun Joe, and while some folks try to stop this madness, these bloodthirsty riders will go any way they can to win the glory.
Death Race 2000 is considered one of Roger Corman’s finest exploitation films in his illustrious producing career. Paul Bartel, a Corman regular, directs this 1975 campy classic featuring David Carradine and pre-Rocky era Sylvester Stallone in their over-the-top performances. Fujimoto Tak (later the Director of Photography for Jonathan Demme and M. Night Shyamalan films) provides outstanding camera works on the fast-paced racing sequences. (Jongsuk Thomas NAM)