In this reboot of the low budget 1975 original, Jason Statham plays Jenson Ames, an ex-race car driver who is framed for the murder of his wife and sent to a maximum security, privately-run prison.
This prison is run by a nasty old bag, aptly played by Joan Allen (who appears to have a face full of Botox - either that or she was attempting to do the entire film whilst remaining completely devoid of expression). In order to raise funds to keep the prison running, they hold a Death Race, in which prisoners race heavily armed (and armoured) cars, attempting to kill each other and win the race. If a prisoner wins 5 races, he is freed. And of course, it's broadcast as PPV TV.
Each car has a navigator, who in the case of Statham, is a buxom wench from a prison that seems to like to dress its inmates in short cut tops and sexy boots.
Statham, quite obviously, is going to try to escape and enlists the help of various other inmates.
It's definitely a popcorn movie - the plot is paper thin - but it has plenty of explosions and big growling V8 engines. It's quite fun, in a no-brainer kind of way. And it appears that Jason Statham is cementing his position of Hollywood's action hero, in the same way that Sly and Arnie did in the 80s. He's quite good at these growling-voiced anti-heroes, as evidenced in Crank and The Transporter.
My rating: 6.8 / 10
IMDB rating: 6.7 / 10
Running time: 111 mins
IMDB link
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