2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams – DVD Review

The Film:

I’m sure you fine Southern ladies and gentlemen, will pardon this Northern boy for a second and respect my upbringing when I say, my good mother always taught me that if you don’t have something nice to say, you shouldn’t say it then. I know my appearance here is upsetting, but I’m by far not a damn dirty Yank. Now,the fine people of this great Union should know that your admirable Southern Hospitality has ran out on us for 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams. I hope my mother isn’t listening, because I hardly have anything good to say.

Tim Sullivan’s 2005 remake from the less than classy, but goofy fun 1964 original by Herschell Gordon Lewis, was a furiously as fun and gave us a bloody romp.  Anchored by a satirical look at the always and forever Southern resentment for losing the Civil War, the film was a blitz of horror-comedy in the vein of Sam Raimi. That film slowly gained fan appreciation in a cult-like way, and good: it’s a fun, bloody, remake that can honor the original and exist as its own thing too. Unfortunately, all of that Southern goodwill is gone for Field of Screams. It’s a patch work that never gels, which is unfortunate since Tim Sullivan is so gung-ho to up the ante for the sequel.

In the liner notes for the DVD, Sullivan claimed he knew a sequel would happen, but he was forced to make it with a lower budget than the 2005 film, shorter shooting schedule, forcing him to either make the damn thing with those restrictions or hold out. Like I said, I love his enthusiasm and will continue to support him on his next project, but Field of Screams‘ biggest enemy was its script. It’s a patch work of old ideas, lame jokes, and little gore. Those Southern cannibals travel North (in Iowa, which was shot just outside where I live, so it tickled me as a Nebraskan to see Iowans cannibalized! It’s a border war thing) and run into a TV reality show. Right there, it feels lack-a-dazed, a gimmick that’s been used far too many times in horror (like Wrong Turn 2). He really doesn’t do much with it, as everything feels like skits instead of scenes.

Even Bill Moseley fails to inject anything into it, replacing Robert Englund from the first film. Moseley is loud and campy, but fails to deliver the menace and slime like Englund did. 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams just never comes together.

The DVD:

Audio/Video: First Look Studios delivers a stellar looking DVD transfer for a low budget film. Details and colors are strong. I doubt if an HD transfer would improve much. The 5.1 isn’t that good; it’s flat and really shows off the film’s low budget.

Commentary: Sullivan and some cast members offer a fun chat about the film. Just wished their enthusiasm was echoed in the final product.

Behind the Screams: A standard making-of. We get interviews and on-set footage.

A Red Band Trailer and a Slideshow gallery of images finish out the extras.

Conclusion: Limp sequel on a decent DVD release. For generous fans only.

The Film: Rating:

The DVD: Rating: