Death Sport Movie Review

This followup to Roger Corman's Death Race 2000 could have used more of that film's freewheeling spirit and black humor. David Carradine and former Playboy Playmate of the Year and legendary B-movie queen Claudia Jennings star as “Ranger Guides” who are pursued across the post-nuclear wilderness by motorcycle-riding “Statesmen” who want them for gladiatorial contests, and cannibal mutants. Jennings was killed in a car crash shortly after this was released. Much more interesting than the film is the rivalry between Carradine and director Nicholas Niciphor (who for this film used the pseudonym Henry Suso), which was revealed in a series of amazing letters printed in Psychotronic magazine (issues 7, 9, and 12).

1978 (R) 83m/C David Carradine, Claudia Jennings, Richard Lynch, William Smithers, Will Walker, David McLean, Jesse Vint; D: Henry Suso, Allan Arkush; W: Donald Stewart, Henry Suso; C: Gary Graver. VHS, Beta WAR, OM