A retelling, updated version of Herschell Gordon Lewis’s “Two Thousand Maniacs”. In this version, a group of college students are on Spring Break, on their way to Daytona Beach. Along with a few other stragglers, they hit a detour that takes them to the historic town of Pleasant Valley. What appears as a ghost town at first, they are greeted by the entire town, including the one-eyed mayor, Robert Englund. They find out that they are the guests of honor for their Guts and Glory Jubilee.

Little do they know, they are also to be the main course at the big barbeque. Disappearing one by one, the remaining survivors start to realize that something is definitely wrong here. After being confronted on their attempt to leave the town, they split up in an effort to find their friends. It all comes down to a chilling, twisted climax which is not to be missed.

Being a huge fan of Herschell Gordon Lewis, and “Two Thousand Maniacs” being my favorite of his, I was totally stoked when I first heard about this film. After the endless waiting and anticipation, I was not disappointed. In fact, this film exceeded my expectations. A very nice touch was getting Robert Englund to play the one-eyed mayor of Pleasant Valley. Other than Freddy Kruger, of course, I think this was one of his best and menacing roles.

With this being an updated version, of course there is going to be some changes done. But, they were not disappointing changes to say the least. Granted, they were not expected, but still, they worked very well with the story. The story sticks very close to the original, which was a definite added plus. I gotta give huge props to Tim Sullivan. He stuck by the original story almost exactly, while adding a few elements and making it his own, and making it work. In fact, making it work very well.

The acting is all above par. Especially Robert Englund’s performance. He was able to be menacing, without overdoing doing it. There was also some witty dialogue thrown in. One of my favorite lines involved two girls (cousins) making out under a tree, while a guy got to sit there and watch. He begins playing with himself, and one of the girls call him a pig. His response, “You’re boning your cousin, and I’m a pig?” Also, few times throughout the film, it shows one of the hillbillies grabbing his britches up while chasing after a sheep.

The effects were very well done. The kill scenes were also creative as in the original. For example, you see somebody get drawn-and-quartered, acid drinking while having sex, a huge bell being dropped on somebody, a person in a huge vice, to be squished until the eyes pop out. Then you have two very disturbing scenes. One has a guy getting his entire crotch being chewed out by a f**ked up, demon toothed, undead, hillbilly chick. The other has a guy getting a huge poker, the size of a large pole, being rammed right up the pooper to come out through his mouth.

Fans of the original will definitely love this one. But this movie can also stand on its own and have it’s own following. I believe any horror fan would enjoy this. This is a must see. I highly recommend this. I would rate this a 8.75 out of 10 f**ked up, demon toothed, undead, hillbilly, crotch chewing chicks.

2001 Maniacs is a very ambitious and at times inventive movie, but as the film goes on it becomes bogged down with its own absurdity and uniqueness. This is not a bad film by any means; it just never is able to live up to the potential that is shows early on in the film. The film is also a sequel of sorts to the “Godfather of Gore” Hershell Gordon Lewis’s 1964 flick Two Thousand Maniacs!

First off let me say the casting and the characters in 2001 Maniacs are all top notch, but Robert Englund as Mayor Buckman steals the show, which is quite a feat considering how bizarre some of the townspeople are. There seems to be a familiar face everywhere in Pleasant Valley like Lin Shaye, Travis Tritt, Peter Stomare and even Kane Hodder gets a quick flash on the screen. All actors in the film play their parts well and to the fullest of their abilities.

The gore is also very well done and a few times it is actually quite stellar, the draw and quartering scene in particular was very well done. There are also numerous scenes of random violence and mayhem that all splash the screen crimson and will satisfy the blood lust of any gorehound out there.

There is also lots of skin to be had in 2001 Maniacs. Around every corner is a breast or a tattooed ass to be seen, we even get some kissing cousins and an incredible bit of eye candy named Peaches played by newcomer Wendy Kremer, who is as sweet as her character’s name.

But what kills this film is the same thing that makes it, which is a really weird thing to say. 2001 Maniacs is odd, real odd, but it is also very enjoyable. I think what kills this one the most however is the pace and patch work of the story telling. The film has the standard opening and then about twelve minutes in hits Pleasant Valley, and within five minutes of that, it gets going quick and bloody, but then it seems to just dabble around until the ending, which was good, yet kind of unfulfilling in the end. It just seems to choke on it’s own absurdity at times, which is a shame because this flick really had potential for awhile.

2001 Maniacs has some great kills, characters, and skin, it also has some pretty amusing interactions and dialog, but it just never seems to get on a set course and right when you think it’s going to go head on, it swerves to the left or right and takes you in a different direction. The film is definitely worth a look and a rent, but not a purchase

This was one of the most enjoyable horror movies that I've seen recently. The movie is chock full of cheesy, gory goodness and it's done really well too.

I love Robert Englund and Lynn Shaye. They were a perfect match for this movie. Also the absurdity makes this that much more fun to watch.

The kills were all great, and my personal favorite was the acid drinking. The sex quotient is filled in this movie as well, and the kissing cousins were really hot too.

I agree with Prime that the potential in this movie wasn't lived up to, simply because it seems like it gets a little lost along the way. The last 20 minutes or so dragged on a little bit and I felt that the final confontation was a bit unneccessary. I am glad that it ended the way I had hoped. Happy endings in horror movies just shouldn't exist.

This movie is easily worth the buy and, currently they are filming the sequel 2001 Maniacs: Beverly Hellbillys. If it's anything like this, I'm gonna love that one too.

8 out of 10 undead confederates