2001 Maniacs: Field Of Screams - 1/5

The main issue that "2001 Maniacs" had was that it was unable to balance the Horror and Comedy in proper amounts throughout. The main issue with "2001 Maniacs: Field Of Screams" is that it fails to contain either Horror or Comedy. Perhaps its a little harsh, but this anticipated sequel to a fairly decent low budget fun cult film made its predecessor look like "The Godfather". In proper form, a sequel must always be more. Unfortunately, this one is just more idiotic from beginning to end.

Mayor Buckman (now played by cult star Moseley) finds his Pleasant Valley ghostly slaughter town in a drought. No one is falling for the tricks of old days, so he decides to take a handful of his most devious townsfolk and hit the road to gather 2001 souls to avenge his town from its civil war massacre. They end up in Iowa (hence the "Field Of Screams") where they meet up with a dimwit blond duo and film crew doing a reality TV show, an obvious take on "The Simple Life". The slaughter begins again with this new group and...well...boobs and blood fly. That's the jist of this movie.

The absurdity of the original "2001 Maniacs" was still built on a premise. This premise is generally ignored and takes a back seat to the over the top (and to be honest with you: dumb) focus of slaughtering people and showing off nudity. Unfortunately, the film also fails to realize that this can't carry the film on its own. Yet, it sticks to its guns by having ridiculous gore and nudity at every turn it can. I thought the original film was borderline porn at times, but this one goes straight there more than once. No 'slasher's have nudity' excuses here, just straight up porn like sequences. No meaning. Just there to show off some skin. Sigh.

Normally this wouldn't be SO bad, but I'll be damned if there isn't anything else to really redeem the film. The dialogue is insanely dumb and boring, the characters are flat and obviously only there to be waiting corpses, the pacing of the film is spastic at best, and the logic for the film...no...no logic found here story wise or plot progressive wise. This film is so poorly constructed is practically feels like its playing a joke on itself. And failing at it.

I'm not going to go on much more about "2001 Maniacs: Field Of Screams" because honestly I kind of want to forget about it. The first film showed so much potential for Tim Sullivan and crew, that this movie seems almost irrational when it was done and over. I feel as though I was at the butt end of a joke and didn't even know what it was. Stick with the first one and just move on with your life.

BONUS RANT: If you do happen to chance fate and watch this film and finish it, stay with the credits a little bit for a completely random and nonsensical scene that's worth the nervous laugh it will make you have. 

Written By Matt Reifschneider