Review- Two Thousand Maniacs!

The 1960s was an awkward phase for horror films. I've always considered it to be the middle ground between the light, sci-fi spook films of the 50s; and the violent, corrupt exploitation films of the 70s. As a result, the 60s produced a vast array of haunted houses, psychedelic-scares, 30s-and-40s remakes and throwbacks, and even budding zombie flicks. There is no quintessential 60s horror film, because it was such a weird decade for the genre.

However, if I had to narrow down a horror picture that I consider to be one of the best from the 60s, I would have to go with Two Thousand Maniacs!. It matches the charm and goofiness of a film from the 50s, while delivering the blood and gore you'd expect from the 70s. It executes genuine suspense and makes me nervous even when I know what's going to happen, which is a lot to say not only of a horror film from 1964, but of a horror film. And I don't get nervous too easily.

Writer and Director Herschell Gordon Lewis realized the success of his gory masterpiece, Blood Feast, and instantly decided to "make a good one". While Maniacs isn't as blood-soaked as its predecessor, it still achieves similar effects.

The plot goes a little something like this: a group of people from the American north are passing through the American south when they are lured into a small town of roughly two thousand people (you can guess where the title comes from) and are asked to partake in a "Centennial Celebration". Unfortunately for the Northerners, the celebration involves gruesome carnage.

The violence is pretty amusing, and a lot more is left to the imagination as was in Blood Feast. This lack of blood, although a little disappointing for a blood hound such as myself, is a little more effective in the long run. Luckily the deaths are more creative this time around, including people getting torn apart by ropes attached to horses, a rolling barrel lined with nails, and plenty more. Ironically enough, the most disturbing death involves a simple ax.

As the festivities progress, tensions mount, not just for the characters, but for the viewer. Like I said before, the tense atmosphere of this film never lets up, and although some cheese is

sprinkled into it all, this film still gets under my skin. I really don't know why, but my heart gets going every time someone's about to die. The charm arises in the poor acting, vibrant colors, and catchy theme song ("The South's Gonna Rise Again").

The ending is a weaker than the rest, and some unnecessary supernatural elements start to creep in, but Two Thousand Maniacs! is definitely worth a watch if you are a horror movie fan.

Rating: Two Thumbs Up