Death Race (2008)
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A framed factory worker is coerced into a lethal, weaponized car racing competition to win his freedom.
The story
In a future where the United States' failed economy and rising crime rates have led to privatized prisons, Warden Claire Hennessey profits from livestreaming the Death Race. This three-day event features inmates racing weaponized cars on a trap-filled track for the chance to win their freedom. Jensen Ames, an industrial worker and former successful racer, is framed for murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. After being transferred to Terminal Island Penitentiary, Hennessey offers Jensen a deal: he must stand in for a popular masked driver named Frankenstein in the upcoming race to earn his release.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 2012, the United States' failed economy and rising crime rates led to an increased number of privatized prisons. At Terminal Island Penitentiary, Warden Claire Hennessey profits from livestreaming the Death Race, a three-day event where inmates race weaponized cars on a trap-filled track to win their freedom. Jensen Ames, an industrial worker and former successful racer, is framed for his wife's murder and sentenced to life. Hennessey offers him freedom if he replaces the popular masked driver Frankenstein in the next race. Jensen accepts, joining Frankenstein's pit crew. On the first day, Jensen meets Case, Frankenstein's navigator, and discovers the car's weapons are malfunctioning. He also recognizes another driver, Pachenko, as his wife's killer. Jensen learns Hennessey ordered the frame-up to use his racing talent. On the second day, Jensen discovers Case was bribed to sabotage Frankenstein. Jensen tricks Pachenko into crashing and kills him. Hennessey releases a multi-weapon tanker truck, 'Dreadnought', to kill drivers; Jensen and another driver, Joe, work together to destroy it. Hennessey then orders a bomb to be planted under Jensen's car. In the final race, Jensen and Joe exploit a weak spot to escape to the mainland bridge. Hennessey shuts down the livestream and sends guards, but Coach has disarmed the bomb. Jensen escapes on a freight train with Joe while Case is captured. Hennessey is killed when the bomb detonates. Six months later, Jensen and Joe are mechanics in Mexico, reunited with Case and Jensen's daughter.
- First release year
- 2008
- Runtime (minutes)
- 105
- Production countries
- United States; United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Paul W. S. Anderson
- Writers
- Paul W. S. Anderson · writer
- Cast and characters
- Jason Statham · Jensen Ames; Tyrese Gibson; Ian McShane; Joan Allen; Natalie Martinez; Jacob Vargas; Max Ryan; Jason Clarke; Frederick Koehler; Robert LaSardo; Robin Shou; David Carradine · unnamed predecessor as Frankenstein
- Genres
- action; thriller; science fiction; dystopian
- Themes
- Reality television; Social commentary; Survival
- Tone and mood
- Violent; Action-packed; Dystopian
- Premise and plot tags
- Remake; Prequel; Prison film; Road movie
- Source material / true-story basis
- Ib Melchior's short story "The Racer" and the 1975 film Death Race 2000.
- Franchise connections
- Death Race
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics and was a financial disappointment.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 41% · review count: 155; Metacritic · score: 43 · scale: 100 · review count: 24; CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The film was originally scheduled for release on September 26, 2008, but was moved to August 22.; The production was delayed by disapproval of early screenplays and a dispute between Paramount Pictures and the producer duo Tom Cruise and Wagner.; The film was shot in Montreal in August 2007.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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