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==Reception==
{{Quote box |quoted=true |bgcolor=#FFFFF0 |salign=center |width=195px |align=right |quote=Between the relentless bloodbath and the thrilling lack of logical consequences, ''Death Race 2'' never fails to astonish and entertain.|source=—'''Debopriyaa Dutta''', '''''[[Slashfilm|/Film]]'''''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dutta |first1=Debopriyaa |title=The Correct Order To Watch The Death Race Franchise |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1606105/correct-order-to-watch-death-race-franchise/ |website=[[Slashfilm|/Film]] |date=June 23, 2024 |access-date=June 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625022110/https://www.slashfilm.com/1606105/correct-order-to-watch-death-race-franchise/ |archive-date=25 June 2024}}</ref>}}
The film received generally favorable reviews upon its release.<ref name="moviehole">{{cite news |last1=Malone |first1=Alicia |author-link=Alicia Malone |title=Exclusive: Death Race 3 revving up! |url=https://moviehole.net/exclusive-death-race-3-revving-up/ |work=Moviehole |location=Australia |date=29 December 2010 |access-date=19 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619081439/https://moviehole.net/exclusive-death-race-3-revving-up/ |archive-date=19 June 2024 }}</ref> While scoffing at the idea of "prequels to remakes", ''[[Salon.com]]'' insisted itthat ''Death Race 2'' was still "better than it has any right to be".<ref name="calhoun">{{cite web |last1=Calhoun |first1=Bob |title=The "Death Race" prequel that's better than it should be |url=https://www.salon.com/2011/01/22/death_race_2/ |website=[[Salon.com]] |date=22 January 2011 |access-date=19 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706052947/https://www.salon.com/2011/01/22/death_race_2/ |archive-date=6 July 2024}}</ref> Cinematical, a now-defunct film blog within [[Moviefone|AOL Moviefone]], wrote that "...{{nbsp}}''Death Race 2'' maintains what made the original enjoyable while still striving to stand on its own two feet",<ref name="hall">{{cite web |last1=Hall |first1=Peter |title='Death Race 2' Review: Exactly What Fans of the First Film Need |url=http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/01/18/death-race-2-review/ |website=Cinematical |publisher=[[Moviefone]] |date=18 January 2011 |access-date=3 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119210845/http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/01/18/death-race-2-review/ |archive-date=19 January 2011 }}</ref> and [[Arrow in the Head]] said it "goes through the same action-orientated motions of its predecessor with {{sic|above average|nolink=y}} results".<ref name="gilbert">{{cite web |last1=Gilbert |first1=Ammon |title=The DVD Pub reviews Death Race 2 |url=http://www.joblo.com/arrow/dvd_reviews.php?id=2749 |website=[[Arrow in the Head]] |date=30 December 2010 |access-date=3 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101093917/http://www.joblo.com/arrow/dvd_reviews.php?id=2749 |archive-date=1 January 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Many reviewers said the film was better than ''Death Race'',{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="bowles">{{cite news |last1=Bowles |first1=Duncan |title=Death Race 2 review |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/death-race-2-review-2/ |work=[[Den of Geek]] |location=United Kingdom |date=15 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223060825/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/death-race-2-review-2/ |archive-date=23 February 2024}}</ref><ref name="orndorf">{{cite news |last1=Orndorf |first1=Brian |title=Death Race 2 - Unrated |url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/46159/death-race-2-blu-ray-dvd-combo-pack/ |work=[[DVD Talk]] |date=18 January 2011 |access-date=19 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110116101910/https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/46159/death-race-2-blu-ray-dvd-combo-pack/ |archive-date=16 January 2011 }}</ref><ref name="barton"/><ref>{{cite news |first1=Bruce |last1=Kirkland |title=Guilty pleasure; Direct-to-DVD prequel Death Race 2 is better than it has any right to be |work=[[Ottawa Sun]] |page=E2 |location=Canada |date=30 January 2011 |id={{ProQuest|2215579903}}}}</ref><ref name="heavy">{{cite news |last1=Weeks |first1=Isaac |title=Death Race 2 Movie Review |url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/2011/01/death-race-2-movie-review/ |access-date=16 August 2024 |work=[[Heavy.com]] |date=18 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122093229/https://heavy.com/entertainment/2011/01/death-race-2-movie-review/ |archive-date=22 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dowler |first1=Andrew |title=Death Race 2 |url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/movies/dvdreviews.cfm?content=178755 |access-date=25 August 2024 |work=[[Now (newspaper)|Now]] |issue=1513 |date=January 20–27, 2011 |location=Canada |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023044542/http://www.nowtoronto.com/movies/dvdreviews.cfm?content=178755 |archive-date=23 October 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>}} with [[Dread Central]] and ''[[IGN]]'' describing it as a worthy prequel that improves upon its Paul W.{{nbsp}}S. Anderson-directed source material.<ref name="barton">{{cite news |last1=Barton |first1=Steve |title=Death Race 2 (Blu-ray / DVD) |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/21519/death-race-2-blu-ray-dvd/ |work=[[Dread Central]] |date=22 January 2011 |access-date=19 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109171359/https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/21519/death-race-2-blu-ray-dvd/ |archive-date=9 January 2024}}</ref><ref name="shaffer">{{cite news |last1=Shaffer |first1=R.{{nbsp}}L. |title=Death Race 2 Blu-ray Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/01/19/death-race-2-blu-ray-review |work=[[IGN]] |date=20 January 2011 |access-date=19 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109171245/https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/01/19/death-race-2-blu-ray-review |archive-date=9 January 2024}}</ref> Contrarily, ''[[Total Film]]'' said the film made his "look like an overlooked [[cult classic]]",<ref name="geary">{{cite magazine |last=Geary |first=Dan |title=Bland Theft Auto |url=https://i.imgur.com/MdaBqbM.png |magazine=[[Total Film]] |issue=176 |page=138 |location=United Kingdom |publisher=[[Future Publishing]] |date=February 2011 |issn=1366-3135 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240714055946/https://imgur.com/MdaBqbM |archive-date=14 July 2024}}</ref> and the ''[[Daily Mirror]]'' found it rather "[b]rimming with guns, girls and growling engines" that car enthusiasts are bound to enjoy it more than a wide audience.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Edwards |first1=David |title=Death Race 2 DVD review: Revved up bid for freedom |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/going-out/film/death-race-2-dvd-review-272425 |website=[[Daily Mirror]] |location=United Kingdom |date=31 December 2010 |access-date=16 July 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240717161334/https://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/going-out/film/death-race-2-dvd-review-272425 |archive-date=17 July 2024}}</ref> "[T]his movie", said the ''[[Winnipeg Free Press]]'', "is no ''Death Race''".<ref name="winnipeg">{{cite news |title=Death Race 2: This Sequel to the Superior 2008 Edition |work=[[Winnipeg Free Press]] |page=E4 |location=Canada |date=20 January 2011 |id={{ProQuest|845331071}}}}</ref> Despite the criticism, ''Screen Daily'' found the action scenes were singled out by most critics for further praise,<ref name="moviehole"/> with their quality described as "solid"<ref name="calhoun"/> and "nicely staged".<ref name="adams">{{cite news |last1=Adams |first1=Mark |title=Death Race 2 |url=https://www.screendaily.com/death-race-2/5022597.article |work=[[Screen Daily]] |date=21 January 2011 |access-date=19 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131161253/https://www.screendaily.com/death-race-2/5022597.article |archive-date=31 January 2024}}</ref> Unlike those of "Death Race", the set pieces of its precursor "Death Match" received good reviews: ''[[Den of Geek]]'' considered them to be "exhilarating",<ref name="bowles"/> and ''Total Film'' among the film's "guiltily enjoyable moments".<ref name="geary"/> Even so, [[DVD Verdict]] found the film "guilty" of "running on empty", and ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' boring and amateurish; they agreed it was ultimately "a waste of time".<ref name="modell">{{cite news |last1=Modell |first1=Josh |title=Death Race 2 |url=https://www.avclub.com/death-race-2-1798223821 |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=January 26, 2011 |access-date=June 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240808141953/https://www.avclub.com/death-race-2-1798223821 |archive-date=8 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=David |title=Death Race 2 (Blu-Ray) |url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/deathrace2bluray.php |access-date=17 August 2024 |work=[[DVD Verdict]] |date=17 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130071528/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/deathrace2bluray.php |archive-date=30 January 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Other reviewers were more positive, considering it to be an entertaining full-bore action film, notwithstanding issues with the narrative in terms of plot, character, and originality.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="orndorf"/><ref name="barton"/><ref name="calhoun"/><ref name="strowbridge"/><ref name="weinberg">{{cite news |last1=Weinberg |first1=Scott |title=DVD Review: 'Death Race 2' |url=http://www.fearnet.com/news/reviews/b21377_dvd_review_death_race_2.html |date=7 January 2011 |work=[[Fearnet]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110109101231/http://www.fearnet.com/news/reviews/b21377_dvd_review_death_race_2.html |archive-date=9 January 2011 |access-date=19 June 2024 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="longsdorf">{{cite news |first1=Amy |last1=Longsdorf |title=New on DVD |work=[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]] |page=G10 |date=21 January 2011 |id={{ProQuest|845788688}}}}</ref><ref name="horrornews">{{cite news |last1=Halen |first1=Adrian |title=Film Review: Death Race 2 (aka Death Race: Frankenstein Lives) (2010) |url=https://horrornews.net/26604/film-review-death-race-2-aka-death-race-frankenstein-lives-2010/ |access-date=16 August 2024 |work=HorrorNews.net |date=1 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110105094815/https://horrornews.net/26604/film-review-death-race-2-aka-death-race-frankenstein-lives-2010/ |archive-date=5 January 2011}}</ref>}}
''[[Screen Daily]]'' and ''IGN'' complimented the casting,<ref name="shaffer"/><ref name="adams"/> and most critics singled out the supporting cast for further praise.<ref name="moviehole"/> Critics named Luke Goss, known for his supporting roles in ''[[Blade II]]'' (2002) and ''[[Hellboy II: The Golden Army]]'' (2008), as a worthy successor to the prior film's Jason Statham.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="bowles"/><ref name="heavy"/><ref name="adams"/><ref name="horrornews"/>}} ''Total Film'' conceded thatsaid he exuded "a skin-crawling, [[Christopher Walken|Walken]]-esque screen presence" while carrying the film "through its more face-palm moments and its videogame [[cut-scene]] narrative",<ref name="geary"/> and [[DVD Talk]] credited him with "supply[ing] the picture with a minuscule sense of personality" in "a thankless role".<ref name="orndorf"/> Danny Trejo, Ving Rhames, and Sean Bean were credited by some with keeping the film entertaining.<ref name="bowles"/><ref name="heavy"/><ref name="weinberg"/> Even so, ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'' said they delivered "[[Overacting|scenery-chewing]] turns",<ref name="longsdorf"/> and ''[[Exclaim!]]'' found Trejo and Rhames underutilized in roles "so modest and glazed over".<ref name="carman">{{cite news |last1=Carman |first1=Keith |title=Death Race 2 |url=https://exclaim.ca/film/article/death_race_2-directed_by_roel_reine |access-date=5 September 2024 |work=[[Exclaim!]] |date=5 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127140116/https://exclaim.ca/film/article/death_race_2-directed_by_roel_reine |archive-date=27 January 2021}}</ref> Likewise, ''Den of Geek'' said the film struggled with its treatment of the female characters, in that Tanit Phoenix and Lauren Cohan were made to play Goss' love interest and a "ruthlessly ambitious arch bitch" devoid of emotional depth and dignity; "I think what's more of a shame, though," said they, "is that the female cast wasn't given the same attention as the males."<ref name="bowles"/> ''Total Film'' said the acting was "awful", but that Bean at least "provides welcome respites from all the prison-based dullness".<ref name="geary" /> DVD Talk commented that the goal of the film is to show not acting prowess but bloody violence, guns, and women as sexual objects, citing Cohan's "agonizing, cleavage-popping performance" in a promiscuous role as an example.<ref name="orndorf"/>
Cinematical and ''Screen Daily'' found the film's production values spectacular for a direct-to-video release,<ref name="hall"/><ref name="adams"/> whereas [[ComingSoon.net]] criticized them as shoddy.<ref name="brevet">{{cite news |last1=Brevet |first1=Brad |title=Blu-ray Review: Death Race 2 (Unrated) |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/549337-blu-ray-review-death-race-2-unrated |work=[[ComingSoon.net]] |date=18 January 2011 |access-date=19 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706053632/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/549337-blu-ray-review-death-race-2-unrated |archive-date=6 July 2024}}</ref> "Visually, ''Death Race 2'' is impressive{{nbsp}}...{{nbsp}}but Reiné relies on too many clichés, such as elongated [[slow motion]] and a horrible electronic soundtrack seemingly pulled from a decade-old ''[[The Matrix|Matrix]]'' clone, which grates more than entertain," wrote ''Exclaim!''<ref name="carman"/> Similarly, ComingSoon.net argued that Reiné abandoned plot for "tons of flashy slow-motion shots, multiple [[Circle|360-degree]] pans and countless 'cool looking' inserts".<ref name="brevet"/> Even so, DVD Talk described ''Death Race 2'' as "a visually stimulating picture that keeps to basic ingredients", praising its stunts, "crisp cinematography", and willingness to fully take advantage of its premise "with a little more spunk".<ref name="orndorf"/> ''IGN'' credited Reiné with making the film look slick and more expensive than its budget suggests on [[Blu-ray]],<ref name="shaffer"/> while HorrorNews.net found the editing "top notch" and the soundtrack "pretty bad ass".<ref name="horrornews"/> ''Den of Geek'' acknowledged that the film "still had moments of unfinished effects,{{nbsp}}... but, if anything, it added to the [[B-movie]] charm",<ref name="bowles"/> and [[Fearnet]] said it was "quite a bit better than what normally passes for a 'DTV sequel{{' "}}.<ref name="weinberg"/>
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