Two Thousand Maniacs! 1964

2,000 Maniacs

Critics Consensus

It didn't take much to thrill early splatter fans, and Two Thousand Maniacs! proves it with its shrill soundtrack, basement-level theatrics, and goofy flesh-tearing gore.

50%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 3,721

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2,000 Maniacs Photos

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Movie Info

The Southern hamlet of Pleasant Valley was the scene of a massacre during the Civil War. Now, once every hundred years the ghosts of the dead return and wreak havoc. Three Yankee couples are lured into town and invited to the centennial of the tragedy, which turns into a murderous parody of rural celebration, as the guests are dismembered, barbecued, stoned and otherwise inventively dispatched. The last living pair, Tom (Thomas Wood) and Terry (Connie Mason), attempt to escape the bloodshed.

Genre:

horror
Original Language:

English
Director:

Herschell Gordon Lewis
Producer:

David F. Friedman
Release Date (Streaming):

Jan 28, 2017
Runtime:

1h 15m

Cast & Crew

Connie Mason
Terry Adams

William Kerwin
Tom White

Jeffrey Allen
Mayor Buckman

Shelby Livingston
Bea Miller

Ben Moore
Lester MacDonald

Jerome Eden
John Miller

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Two Thousand Maniacs!

All Critics (22) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (9) | Rotten (13)

This is a real odd duck -- inspired by Brigadoon, of all things, with a score that alternates between cheesy midnight-movie organ and high-spirited bluegrass -- but its bloodthirsty hicks have become a genre standard.

March 30, 2019 | Full Review…

J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
Top Critic
Nonsensical and illogical.

August 6, 2019 | Rating: 1/4 | Full Review…

Matthew Lucas
From the Front Row
Having picked up a modicum of craft since Blood Feast, Lewis integrates the gruesome money-shots less maladroitly into the story. Still, his sideshow-barker shamelessness remains undimmed.

March 30, 2019 | Full Review…

Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion
This is easily Lewis' best film.

March 30, 2019 | Full Review…

TV Guide Staff
TV Guide
While as badly acted and technically inept as any Lewis drive-in exploiter, the cheaply graphic effects still carry a potent charge.

March 30, 2019 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Alan Jones
Radio Times
A film considered essential by many filmmakers who clearly inspired in it to compose their horror symphonies, with a delusional premise and daring situations. [Full review in Spanish]

November 10, 2016 | Full Review…

Alberto Abuín
Espinof
It's boring, it's shrill, and it's obnoxious.

July 28, 2009 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review…

David Cornelius
DVDTalk.com
Sure, it's a splatter film with creative deaths, but that doesn't make up for the tedium, repetition, and plot holes that follow.

April 29, 2009 | Full Review…

Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
Herschell Gordon Lewis' follow-up to Blood Feast is a lot better and offers some laughably cartoonish violence.

April 9, 2007 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com
Quote not available.

February 18, 2007 | Rating: 1/5

Jake Euker
F5 (Wichita, KS)
jiiihaaa, we kinda suck

April 11, 2006 | Rating: 1.5/4

Stefan Birgir Stefansson
sbs.is
A hilarious, rediculous mess of shock schlock cinema.

September 2, 2005 | Rating: 4/5

Kevin Carr
7M Pictures

View All Critic Reviews (22)

Audience Reviews for Two Thousand Maniacs!

Oct 03, 2011

Herschell Gordon Lewis' Two Thousand Maniacs! may be low in the gore department, but the story is completely bonkers. A group of southern folk invite people who are passing through town to their annual festival - only to later kill them in some ridiculous ways and eat them afterwards at a BBQ. I actually like stuff like Blood Feast more than I do this. I'm not sure if it's because of the amount of gore in that film compared to this one, but it just seems much more fun than this one. Not that this one isn't enjoyable, but it has some slow areas with character build-up that doesn't go anywhere. The ending is also an obvious conclusion way before you get there to see it. It's all bad in the good way, but mediocre when you look at the rest of Lewis' work.

Tim S Super Reviewer
Jul 15, 2011

I was surprised that this wasn't as gory as his other movies. The story is good, though, I really liked the ending most of all. As usual the actors aren't great, but they try hard. Overall this was a pretty good movie, if only it didn't shy away from the gory parts.

Aj V Super Reviewer
Jan 14, 2009

I watched this because I enjoyed the sequel/remake called 2001 Maniacs and had never seen the original it was based on. Many scenes are the same with more gore in the remake. However, even though tame by today's standards, I imagine the original 2000 Maniacs was shocking in 1964. It is more of a comedy and set the standard for many of the future horror comedies and for that I appreciate it's overall cheese factor but still took a bit for me to get through it. Watch it for what it is, an early "stab" at hillbilly humor with some interesting kills thrown in for good measure. Don't take it seriously because it sure doesn't either.

Nicky M Super Reviewer
Jan 01, 2009

For my money, this is H.G. Lewis' best work. The acting, effects, and story are still ludicrous, but they seem to be on a slightly higher level than the films that preceded and followed it. The barrel scene is one of my favorites.

Shane D Super Reviewer