2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams (2010, Review) First Look Pictures
Director: Tim Sullivan
Cast: Bill Moseley, Lin Shaye, Nivek Ogre, Christa Campbell, Andrea Leon, Ahmed Best, Katy Mary Johnson, Ryan Fleming, Alana Curry, Jordan Yale Levine, Trevor Wright, Miles Dougal, Larayia Gaston, Asa Hope, Alex Luria
First Look Studios / NTSC Region 1 / Unrated / 1.33:1 Widescreen /Dolby Surround / 86 Minutes
Special Features: Director Commentary, Behind the Scenes, Trailers
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The South has risen and will continue to rise and rise again until all of Tim Sullivan’s 2001 Maniacs are avenged! Or so we are promised by Mayor Buckman (Bill Moseley) and his crew of ruthless, rotten rednecks as they take us on a journey through the crimson Field of Screams (I’ve yet to decide whether or not that’s a good thing). Tim Sullivan’s follow up to his 2004 raunchy rehashing of H.G. Lewis’ 1964 splatter flick, 2000 Maniacs! is all guts and no glory in comparison to the Robert Englund-led lunacy of its predecessor and the original feature on which it was based. Although gratuitous nudity and gore aren’t necessarily bad things – they just sort of lose their appeal when integrated into a horror film that feels more like a reality tv show episode of Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie pretending to be hicks.
The homicidal hillbillies of Pleasant Valley are planning their annual ‘Guts & Glory’ Jamboree, only their dinner guests are nowhere to be found. So Buckman, Granny, horny little Hucklebilly and the Milk Maiden set out with the rest of their corn fed comrades to find some Northerners to nibble on. Meanwhile, the cast and crew of a ridiculous reality show find themselves in a bit of a sticky situation. They set up camp for the night and awaken to find themselves amongst the slack-jawed simpletons of Pleasant Valley. Unaware of the cannibalistic carnival of carnage that is about to ensue, the crew proceeds to partake in the perverse festivities, without even the slightest clue what they’re in for, despite the chicken chopping, blood-sopped imbecilic insanity.
Jerry the Jewish director and his lez-bionic leader/producer care about one thing and one thing only; capturing T & A footage of the Paris and Nicole wannabe wenches. The cast is a melting pot of politically incorrect, ethnic stereotypes. We’ve got a rainbow of different races which makes for some good old fashioned mean-spirited comedic relief. One thing that I have to praise each and every person who was involved in this film for (particularly writer/director Sullivan) was their talent for taunting one another in such realistically ignorant fashion; rednecks fucking sheep, your classic closet case of homosexuality, a sleazy Mexican named Jesus, just to name a few. Although at times the stupidity of the characters and their dim-witted dialogue exceeds the typical trash that the majority of horror/comedies have to offer to the point of almost being unbearable, they all seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely which is one of the most contagious qualities of this kind of film.
Sullivan manages to soothe the seething stupidity with a geyser of fake blood, using what he refers to as “splat-stick” (gags leading up to gory deaths) to insure a gruesome gong show that will have you busting a gut and perhaps even a nut with all of the naked numb-skull ladies running around getting eaten (in more ways than one). Melding his childhood passion for magic with his rancid meat fetish, Sullivan serves up some spicy Southern slaughter fresh off the chopping block… with a side order of Jesus chicken! Mmmm, scrumptious sacrilege. He also tosses in a few film references, including a homoerotic homage to Brokeback Mountain (I kid you not!), and one of the more memorable death scenes from Lewis’ original Maniacs!.
So after 86 minutes of hacked up humans and ho-downs, I’ve got to be honest; the meat just ain’t settling right. It was much tastier when served up by Robert Englund. The farmer fiend flavor is tasting a bit stale this time around. There were a few gags and naughty bits that had me giggling and gasping intermittently but overall the film was directed more towards an audience that doesn’t take their scares seriously. I, for one, certainly do. Field of Screams is one of those sequels that will either be loved or loathed but either way, you’re guaranteed a few laughs.
