Two Thousand Maniacs

The horror subgenre known as "splatter films" began with director H.G. Lewis who helmed the classic "Blood Feast." That quite gory movie was a happy accident but Lewis' follow-up, "Two Thousand Maniacs", purposely used an extremely low-budget to the film's advantage. Using the best possible film sources possible, Arrow Video presents this 1964 shocker in a new Blu-ray release that has certain scenes presented in standard definition.

There are no complaints on this end as Arrow's edition of "Two Thousand Maniacs" surpasses a Blu-ray release from just a few years ago both in terms of film quality and extras. A bizarre little story follows a stray of disparate visitors to a small Southern town known as Pleasant Valley, an obvious play on words where things aren't as pleasant as they seem. Certain townsfolk steer the tourists by detour off the beaten track and trap them in the town where a Centennial celebration is happening.

"Two Thousand Maniacs" was filmed in such a way that it appears you could be viewing someone's home movie collection. As usual with an H.G. Lewis film, the acting and production values are also horrid. But the splatter movie's horrific murder sequences, while laughably dated at times, will make one wince nonetheless.

The term "hicksploitation" got created with the help of "Two Thousand Maniacs" and in the special feature "Hicksploitation Confidential," an examination of clich� Southern characters is done. A whopping eight other extras adorn Arrow Video's Blu-ray, including:

"Two Thousand Maniacs Can't Be Wrong" - an interview with Tim Sullivan who created the remake "2001 Maniacs"

"The Gentleman's Smut Peddler" - a tribute to David Friedman

"Maniac Outtakes" - presented without audio are scenes not included in "Two Thousand Maniacs"

"Moonshine Mountain" - another 1964 film from H.G. Lewis is on the Blu-ray and both this and "Maniacs" can be viewed as a double-feature

"Two Thousand Maniacs"
Blu-ray
$29.99
www.arrowvideo.co.uk