Film “Two Thousand Maniacs!” (1964) is a darkly comic gore fest by Herschell Gordon Lewis. The story follows six vacationing Yanks falling prey to the violent hospitality of Pleasant Valley. The visitors become the guests of honor in the town’s centennial celebration, only to realize they’re part of the locals’ bloody amusements.
Shot on a shoestring budget in St. Cloud, FL, the film features creative and gruesome deaths, including being rolled downhill in a barrel of spikes. The bloodthirsty rednecks seek symbolic revenge for the slaughter by the Union Army a century prior. The movie is a macabre journey filled with quirky songs performed by the Pleasant Valley Boys.
“Two Thousand Maniacs!” showcases Lewis’s talent for crafting low-budget horror with a dark sense of humor. The iconic scenes and unusual storyline have made this film a cult classic in the horror genre. So, if you’re a fan of old-school horror with a touch of dark comedy, this film will surely delight your senses.
