Metacritic reviews

Caged Heat is inspired from start to finish.

An exciting film, and one that proves that even the most exploitative of films can make a relevant statement.

A percussive, Velvet-y score by John Cale and several casting surprises (including the long-absent Barbara Steele) help keep both pace and interest high. It's no more than passable as a thriller, but the density of invention and energy in other respects is enough to shame a dozen contemporary major studio movies.

Jonathan Demme's debut film is campy, choppy, and generally immature, though his bonding themes are fitfully discernible amid the cartoonish action.

Caged Heat is a nudity-filled sleaze-fest, that much is certain, but it's also a haunting little trip with plenty of memorable thrills.