"Lust for Freedom" is a pretty typical entry in the familiar "Women In Prison" genre from Troma films, and considering the often outrageous and overtly campy nature of many Troma productions, this is actually played rather straight most of the time. That's not to say that it's not without its cheesy charms, of course. Most of the villains *are* overplayed. However, co- writer / director Eric Louzil ("Class of Nuke 'Em High" Parts 2 and 3), making his directing debut, handles things in a surprisingly tame fashion at first: it's a half hour into the story before we get our first shower scene, and he actually makes the viewer until the thing is half over before he starts treating us to more truly exploitative moments, with many appreciable leering shots of the female anatomy. There's also a sufficient amount of gore in the more violent moments.
Gorgeous and sexy Melanie Coll, who somewhat resembles Virginia Madsen, stars as Gillian Kaites, an undercover detective who loses her partner / fiancée in a sting gone bad. Needing a breather, she heads for the hills, only to fall prey to a very crooked ring of corrections officers who abduct mostly innocent young women and keep them prisoner. Gillian doesn't care much about anything since the loss of her beloved, but after witnessing enough depravity towards her fellow inmates, she's motivated to start kicking ass.
In general, "Lust for Freedom" just might not be sleazy or grimy enough to suit the tastes of some trash fans watching. Its script is largely of the routine variety, and Louzils' pacing is a little sluggish, but there's adequate entertainment in eyeing the assorted attractive female cast members. As was said, some of the performances are pretty unsubtle: Judi Trevor as hostile matron Ms. Pusker, Howard Knight as cheerful warden / judge Maxwell. Elizabeth Carlisle is a hoot as tough gal inmate Vicky, as is the towering Dee Booher as thuggish con Big Eddie. John Tallman is likewise fun as the creepy Jud, Elizabeth Carroll is appealing as the innocent Sharon, and William J. Kulzer is very effective in a low key turn as the morally compromised but not completely villainous sheriff; Kulzer also worked behind the scenes, functioning as stunt co-ordinator, associate producer, and special effects creator. Coll is decent in the lead.
If you're an addict of this sort of entertainment, you may be reasonably amused by this one.
Seven out of 10.
