Death Racers

Last updated
Death Racers
Death Racers.jpg
DVD cover
Directed by Roy Knyrim
Written by
  • Andrew Helm
  • Roy Knyrim
  • Patrick Tantalo
Produced by
  • David Michael Latt
  • Paul Bales
  • Rachael Goldenberg
  • David Rimawi
  • Gregory Paul Smith
Starring
CinematographyDavid Conley
Edited byBobby K. Richardson
Music byJoseph Kamiya
Distributed by The Asylum
Release date
  • September 16, 2008 (2008-09-16)
Running time
92 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$450,000 (est.)

Death Racers is a 2008 American action film directed by Roy Knyrim. Considered a mockbuster of the film Death Race (released that same year), Death Racers follows teams of criminals competing in a deadly, over-the-top racing event in a dystopian United States. It stars the hip hop duo Insane Clown Posse and professional wrestler Scott "Raven" Levy, and was released direct-to-video by The Asylum.

Contents

Plot

In the year 2030, a civil war breaks out in the United States. In a final attempt to restore order, the president declares martial law. In 2033, a massive prison camp known as "the Red Zone" is built in a desolate city that soon holds over one million insane and violent felons. The US is declared safe.

A dangerous criminal known as the Reaper has been extracting sarin, which he plans to spill into the nation's water supply. One of the prisoners, FX, secretly films the Reaper with a Wi-Fi digital camera as he discusses these plans, and the state's governor, Reagan Black finds out about them. Black develops a plan to hold a "death race" within the prison system, assembling four teams of racers:

The race is televised live, hosted by anchors Harvey Winkler and Jennifer Ramirez. Black offers the teams gathering points for killing loose prisoners, promising freedom to the team that brings back the Reaper—dead or alive. When Danny Satanico suggests that the four teams escape, Black reveals that each team member has a chip implanted in their bodies which would kill any member that breaks the rules, using Satanico to demonstrate.

When Insane Clown Posse's truck gets a flat tire, a fight ensues between the teams and loose criminals. In the distance, Violent J witnesses an explosion. The teams investigate, finding the burning Homeland Security jeep with two corpses inside. Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope find FX filming the race. He tells them that there will be an ambush at their first destination, and they let him ride in their van. Each of the teams work together to surprise and kill the ambushers. Metal Machine Man, under the order of the Reaper, kills FX and attacks the racers before being hit by missiles fired by a pair of mysterious men.

The teams fix their cars before dispatching. Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope arrive at the Reaper's lair, and successfully infiltrate the fortress, preventing the Reaper and his henchmen from releasing the sarin into the water. The mysterious men arrive, firing a rocket into the room, and reveal themselves to be Colonel Bob and Captain Rudy, who were hired by Governor Black as inside men, and faked their deaths to convince the other teams that they had a chance of winning.

Believing the Reaper died in the explosion, Bob and Rudy retrieve his severed hand and leave in Insane Clown Posse's truck. Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope emerge from the rubble. Because Violent J is injured, Shaggy 2 Dope goes after Bob and Rudy alone. The Reaper appears and attempts to release the sarin as Violent J attempts to stop him. The Homeland Security team members arrive at the finish line, presenting the Reapers hand to Governor Black. Shaggy 2 Dope rises from the back of the truck, shooting at Bob, Rudy and the governor. Black presses the button to activate the explosives in the bodies of the Insane Clown Posse team members. The sarin explodes, causing a chain reaction which destroys the country.

Cast

Production

In January 2008, it was announced that Insane Clown Posse and Twiztid had received a treatment for a low-budget horror film titled Road Rage, to be directed by Roy Knyrim of Sota Productions, [2] [3] who had previously directed J and Shaggy in The Chronicles of the Dark Carnival . [4] It was stated that filming would take place over a two-week period in Los Angeles, California during the Spring of that year. [2]

In March, a second announcement was made, stating that Insane Clown Posse would star in a film scheduled to begin production in the first week of May. [5] Bruce and Utsler would portray their stage personas of Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope, and the characters would drive around in an ice cream truck, killing pedestrians for points. [5] It was stated that the film would be aired by the Sci Fi Channel in the summer. [5]

Insane Clown Posse members Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope agreed to appear in the film because the director was a personal friend, and they wanted to warm up their acting skills for Big Money Rustlas , the prequel to the Psychopathic Records film Big Money Hustlas . [6] [7] Psychopathic was not involved with the production of Death Racers in any way. [6] According to Bruce, "We just did it for fun. We knew it was gonna be basically garbage." [7]

Death Racers was released direct-to-video by The Asylum on September 16, 2008. [8] The film's soundtrack featured original music by Joseph Kamiya, in addition to previously released music performed by Insane Clown Posse. [9]

Reception

Dread Central said, "If you’re a die hard Juggalo or think Troma is the pinnacle of cinema, then maybe Death Racers will rock your socks off. Me, I wanted my time, my money, and my brain cells back." [10]

Legacy

Violent J referred to Death Racers as "a terribly shitty movie", but states that he does not regret making the film, because it inspired him to continue with the production of Big Money Rustlas, because he felt that Psychopathic could make a better film than Death Racers. [7] At the 2008 Gathering of the Juggalos, J referred to the film as "the bootleg ripoff fake version" of Death Race . [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juggalo</span> A fan of the group Insane Clown Posse or any other Psychopathic Records hip hop group

A juggalo is a fan of the hip hop group Insane Clown Posse or any other hip hop group signed to Psychopathic Records. Juggalos have developed their own idioms, slang, and characteristics. The Gathering of the Juggalos, alternatively known as just "The Gathering", is a notable annual festival held by juggalos and the artists that they support, which have included rap stars such as Busta Rhymes, Ice Cube, and MC Hammer; over its first eleven events (2000–2010), the festival drew a total attendance of about 107,500 fans, averaging nearly 9,800 per year, with a peak of 20,000 in 2010.

<i>Hells Pit</i> 2004 album by Insane Clown Posse

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Dark Lotus was an American hip hop group based in Detroit, Michigan, United States. Formed in 1998 as a side project of Insane Clown Posse and Twiztid, Dark Lotus was a representative of the horrorcore subgenre. From 1998 to 2017, Dark Lotus' lineup changed multiple times, with the most consistent members of the group being Violent J, Shaggy 2 Dope, Jamie Madrox, Monoxide and Blaze Ya Dead Homie.

Psychopathic Rydas was an American hip hop group based in Detroit, Michigan. Formed in 1999 as a side project of Insane Clown Posse and Twiztid, the group consisted of Psychopathic Records-associated rappers performing under alternate stage names in the style of gangsta rap. Violent J, Shaggy 2 Dope, Jamie Madrox, Monoxide Child, and Blaze Ya Dead Homie were the only consistent members of the group throughout their entire existence.

Psychopathic Records is an American independent record label headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The label is most associated with the hip-hop music subgenres horrorcore and rap rock. The label was founded in 1991 by Alex Abbiss and hip hop group Insane Clown Posse. The iconography of a man with a meat cleaver has been used for years as a symbol of the group, its fanbase, and its associates.

<i>Big Money Hustlas</i> 2000 American film

Big Money Hustlas is a 2000 American comedy film directed by John Cafiero as his feature film debut. The film, a homage to exploitation films of the 1970s, focuses on a streetwise San Francisco detective who tries to take down a New York City crime lord. It stars Insane Clown Posse's Joseph "Violent J" Bruce and Joseph "Shaggy 2 Dope" Utsler, and Twiztid's Jamie Madrox and Monoxide Child, and features appearances by Harland Williams, Johnny Brennan, Rudy Ray Moore, Mick Foley and the Misfits. Released direct-to-video, the film debuted at #1 on Billboard's Top Music Videos chart, and was later certified platinum by the RIAA. A Western genre follow-up, Big Money Rustlas, was released direct-to-video on August 17, 2010. In 2015, Insane Clown Posse announced the production of a sequel entitled Big Money Thrusters.

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<i>Big Money Rustlas</i> 2010 American comedy film by Paul Andresen

Big Money Rustlas is a 2010 American Revisionist Western comedy film directed by Paul Andresen. The film is a prequel to the 2000 film Big Money Hustlas. Joseph Bruce wrote the story, and he, Andresen, and Studebaker Duchamp adapted the story into a screenplay. Their writing was influenced by classic Western films, classic Warner Bros. cartoons, and the film Blazing Saddles.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Violent J discography</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaggy 2 Dope discography</span>

The discography of Joseph Utsler, an American rapper better known by his hip hop persona of the wicked clown Shaggy 2 Dope, consists of two studio albums and two extended plays. Collaborations are also included, as are film and television appearances and home video releases. In addition to his solo career, Utsler has also been involved with eight hip hop groups; JJ Boys, Inner City Posse, Insane Clown Posse, Golden Goldies, Dark Lotus, Psychopathic Rydas, Soopa Villainz and The Killjoy Club.

References

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  2. 1 2 Weekly Freekly Weekly. Psychopathic Records. January 2008. Event occurs at 1:49. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
  3. Strick, David (May 19, 2008). "Hollywood Backlot: Severed heads held on "Death Racers"". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
  4. "Roy Knyrim biography". Sota Productions. Archived from the original on 2009-01-01. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  5. 1 2 3 Violent J (March 2008). Weekly Freekly Weekly. Psychopathic Records. Event occurs at 16:10. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
  6. 1 2 3 Violent J; Shaggy 2 Dope (August 2008). Gathering of the Juggalos seminar (Videotape). Event occurs at 3:24. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
  7. 1 2 3 "{title}". The A.V. Club . 21 September 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-10-17. Retrieved 2010-10-17.
  8. McLendon, Gary (September 16, 2008). "Henrietta actor has had varied life". Democrat and Chronicle . Rochester, New York.
  9. "Soundtrack information for Death Racers". Internet Movie Database. Archived from the original on 2009-03-19. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
  10. "Death Racers (DVD)". Dread Central. 17 September 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2024.