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DEATH RACE

What You Need To Know:

DEATH RACE is a wall-to-wall action thriller about prisoners racing to the death in a futuristic gladiator-style Internet show. Jensen is a veteran racecar driver. His wife is killed. He is framed for her murder. Jensen is put into Terminal Island Prison, which sponsors a pay-per-view “Death Race” from the island. If Jensen wins, he will gain his freedom. He learns that he was framed so that he would come into the prison and drive in the Death Race. Jensen then proceeds to enact revenge on those who killed his wife and had him framed.

Watching DEATH RACE is the closest thing to playing a video game. For instance, while racing along the course, the drivers are able to drive over icons that enable weapons and other gizmos in their cars, just like a video game. Dozens of people are killed in car crashes and explosions. Killing and human life is taken very much for granted. There are many isolated shots of characters being killed, including a man being decapitated by a passing car, which is replayed three times. The violence and foul language in DEATH RACE are excessive and offensive.

Content:

(PaPa, B, LLL, VVV, S, N, D, MMM) Strong pagan, immoral worldview with revenge as a dominant theme, with some light moral elements; at least 60 obscenities and three profanities, plus racial “n” word slur used four times; very strong violence includes multiple car crashes and explosions, dozens of people killed by car crashes, some with much gore including man having head knocked off by passing car, two stabbings, men shot by gunfire with blood, multiple fist fights with blunt objects, bomb kills two people; couple starts to fool around but are interrupted by baby; upper male nudity, brief rear male nudity in shower scene, and female cleavage; no alcohol use; smoking; and, very strong miscellaneous immorality such as lying, stealing, cheating, revenge, and murder portrayed as a gladiator type sport.

More Detail:

DEATH RACE is a wall-to-wall action thriller about a convict forced to drive in a prison race to the death in a gladiator-style Internet show.

Jensen Ames, played by Jason Statham, is a veteran racecar driver trying to make ends meet in a futuristic society. His wife is killed, and he is framed for her murder. He is put into Terminal Island Prison, run by a woman named Hennesey and owned by a multi-billion dollar company, which sponsors a pay-per-view “Death Race” from the island prison. If Jensen wins the race, he will gain his freedom. He soon learns that he was framed so that he would come into the prison and drive in the Death Race. Jensen then proceeds to enact revenge on the man who killed his wife and Hennesey, the one who had him framed.

DEATH RACE is an action movie, pure and simple. It is the closest thing to being a video game without the console. For instance, as the racers move about the course, they are able to drive over icons that enable weapons or other gizmos in their cars, literally just like a video game. The dialogue of the racers is about video game level as well. Many racers are introduced simply so viewers recognize them when they are subsequently killed.

The movie never tries to be more than what it is. In that sense, the filmmakers have achieved their purpose of making a violent “high octane” race movie. There are a number of illogical scenes involving who has an explosion detonator and how did they time things out so perfectly. But, again, this is not intended to be a movie that provokes any thinking.

There is much foul language to go around. However, there is only brief nudity when the male prisoner enters the facility and showers. While there are women with low cut outfits, there are no actual scenes of sex, though a couple is about to start when interrupted by their crying baby.

The violence is, obviously, the biggest concern. There are dozens of people killed in car crashes and car explosions. As the gladiator race continues, the drivers are “x’d out” until there are only two left. Killing and human life is taken very much for granted. There are many fistfights, usually with big, heavy objects. Machine guns fire constantly, and there are many isolated shots of characters being killed, including a man being decapitated by a passing car (which is re-played three times).

The movie’s hero is motivated by the desire to be free and get his daughter back, which is noble. Also, when he is freed, he encourages a fellow ex-con to pursue the life of an honest man. However, he is also motivated by a desire to get revenge on the people who killed his wife and framed him.

DEATH RACE requires much discernment. Its callous violence, foul language and revenge theme are excessive.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.