The Naked Cage

I was really surprised. What could you expect of a movie named "the Naked Cage", produced by Cannon Group and Golan-Globus Company? I myself was expecting crap, but it was fine. This film depicts prison for women and terrible things happening there. Michelle is falsely accused in a bank robbery, and goes to prison where she faces a lot of cruelty and horrible things. Worth watching this movie.

I love campy movies like this. The dialogue is a hoot, the scenes of women in jail are so preposterous but who cares? It's a cheap thrill to watch women slap, stab, pull hair and lez out. Even the warden (Angel Thompkins) is a hot babe who gets off being sadistic. In my opinion Faith Minton steals this picture as tough inmate who looks like she just came off of the pro-wrestling circuit. She has the best lines in the movie, my favorite being when she tells a muslim inmate "Nothing you sh#$heads do concerns me!" Sit back, watch and turn your brain off and you will have a good time. Yes, the language is quite foul but when there is this much unintended comedy it loses it shock value. Not the best of this genre (Chained Heat, Concrete Jungle) but close.

Standard fare about female criminals and a female penitentiary certainly doesn't have the best acting in the world and relies heavily on predictable material. Why bother?

While the women in prison movie genre was on its last legs by the mid 1980s, that fact did not stop schlock movie producers Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus from grinding out their own contribution. Typical for one of their productions, it was made on a low budget, which does show here and there (mainly with some cheap sets.) However, director Paul Nicolas does manage to inject some stylish touches here and there. And while the movie could have used a bit more sleaze, there is a decent amount of nudity and other exploitation touches here and there. However, the story is kind of a mess. There are some murky details, as if important information got edited out or was never filmed in the first place. And some scenes seem to play out of order. Central story details also unfold slowly, but Nicolas does go from scene to scene at a brisk pace so there are no boring or tedious moments. And there is some welcome camp, mainly with some really broad performances by the cast. While I am (oddly) not a big fan of the women in prison genre despite the treats many of these films offer, I will say this: If you like this particular genre, you will likely find this effort to be decently done.

The Naked Cage, a 1986 prison drama directed by Paul Nicholas, tells the story of a young woman named Michelle (played by Shari Shattuck) who is wrongfully convicted and sent to a women's prison. The film attempts to explore themes of female empowerment, injustice, and survival within the confines of a brutal prison system.

The plot is fairly standard for the genre, with Michelle initially struggling to adapt to life behind bars. Michelle must navigate the dangerous politics of the prison, form alliances, and ultimately fight for her freedom.

One of the film's most notable aspects is its cast, which features several recognizable faces from the era. Shattuck delivers a convincing performance as the determined Michelle, while Tompkins and Whitaker are suitably menacing as the prison's main antagonists. However, the characters themselves are somewhat underdeveloped, and their motivations often feel contrived.

Overall, The Naked Cage is a passable entry in the women-in-prison genre, but it fails to truly stand out. The film's pacing is uneven, with stretches of tedium punctuated by brief moments of action and violence. Additionally, the script is riddled with clichés and predictable plot twists, which detract from the overall impact of the story.

In conclusion, while The Naked Cage has its moments, it ultimately falls short of its potential. The strong performances from the cast are undermined by a lackluster script and uninspired direction. As a result, this mediocre prison drama is unlikely to leave a lasting impression on viewers.