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Purgatory

  • 1988
  • R
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
3.9/10
407
YOUR RATING
Purgatory (1988)
Innocent fun turns into trouble in this trailer
Play trailer1:51
1 Video
99+ Photos
ActionDrama

Two Peace Corps volunteers in Africa are framed and put into an oppressive women's prison.Two Peace Corps volunteers in Africa are framed and put into an oppressive women's prison.Two Peace Corps volunteers in Africa are framed and put into an oppressive women's prison.

  • Director
    • Ami Artzi
  • Writers
    • Paul Aratow
    • Felix Kroll
  • Stars
    • Tanya Roberts
    • Julie Pop
    • Hal Orlandini
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    3.9/10
    407
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ami Artzi
    • Writers
      • Paul Aratow
      • Felix Kroll
    • Stars
      • Tanya Roberts
      • Julie Pop
      • Hal Orlandini
    • 13User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Purgatory (2008)
    Trailer 1:51
    Purgatory (2008)

    Photos117

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    Top cast22

    Edit
    Tanya Roberts
    Tanya Roberts
    • Carly
    Julie Pop
    Julie Pop
    • Melanie
    Hal Orlandini
    • Bledsoe…
    Adrienne Pearce
    • Janine
    • (as Adrienne Pearse)
    Marie Human
    • Kirsten
    Rufus Swart
    Rufus Swart
    • Paul
    David Sherwood
    David Sherwood
    • Stern
    Clare Marshall
    • Ruth…
    Gert van Niekerk
    • Hans
    Anthony Wilson
    • Soldier
    • (as Anthony 'Speedo' Wilson)
    Mandy Tshbalah
    • Prison matron
    Mbali Hlatshwayo
    • Police matron
    Sello Moikangoa
    • Photographer
    Winston Gama
    • Simpson
    James Winkler
    • Colonel Mays
    Martin Du Wee
    • Cuban Leader
    Thapelo Mofokeng
    • Judge
    Johnny Molefe
    • Prosecutor
    • Director
      • Ami Artzi
    • Writers
      • Paul Aratow
      • Felix Kroll
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews13

    3.9407
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    Featured reviews

    spotter-8

    Seen It Before

    Pick almost any "Women In Prison" movie where some young lovelies are unjustly thrown behind bars and then abused by the warden, the guards, the other prisoners....That's this movie. Still, it has a young, lovely and long-legged Tanya Roberts as one of the hapless prisoners. There's a little bit of nudity here and there, and a lot of explosions at the end. You've seen it before.
    6lorutmc

    beefcake

    I guess it's no-brainer as far as eye-candy goes (Tanya Roberts) but let's not forget Rufus Swart!!! I recall seeing this in 2006 (whilst pregnant) and actually getting out of bed to google Rufus. Gorgeous! Born in South Africa, he had a beautiful accent and was earnest and compelling to watch.

    You can imagine my creeped-out-ness when I discovered he had died in real life - close to 10 years prior.

    Anyway, upon finding that out, I went about attempting to buy up his catalogue. Not a great film, but being a fan of the ANGELS I thought I'd check it out. Worth it for Rufus alone...
    herzogvon

    John Newland????

    This truly crappy women-in-prison flick looks like a leftover from the 1970s. Like so many of that genre, it was shot in the Philippines. One difference; instead of a totally no-name cast, it has Tanya Roberts, the erstwhile Charlie's Angel. Hold your Oscar nominations, please.

    Though none exists, this movie could easily be subtitled, "Carly and Melanie Go to Africa and Get Gang Raped." That's pretty much the size of it. Sadly, poor Melanie drops out in the first twenty minutes, so that leaves Carly ( Roberts ) to fend for herself against a bunch of really yucky people. They're yucky, she's plucky. The outcome is predictable.

    Lots of people get killed along the way, not that anyone really cares. The biggest question remains: What is John Newland doing in this dreck? Yes, that's right; the same John Newland who hosted the Sci-Fi TV classic from the 1950s, "One Step Beyond". He's dead now, so it's impossible to ask him. One can only imagine that his last wish was to have his name deleted from the credits. That appears to have been granted.
    4Uriah43

    Requires Viewers to Use Their Imagination

    "Carly Arnold" (Tanya Roberts) and her good friend "Melanie" (Julie Pop) are serving in the Peace Corp somewhere in Africa. As they are heading to the airport en route to the United States they happen to pick up a hitchhiker who says he is also headed in that direction. Unfortunately, they encounter a roadblock and during an inspection of their baggage a bag of heroin is found in the hitchhiker's belongings. When the hitchhiker tries to run, he is shot and killed leaving the two young ladies without the main person who might vouch for their innocence. After a quick trial with a preordained guilty verdict, they are both sentenced to 11 years in a prison known as "Purgatory". While there they are raped and abused with neither of them having much chance of acquittal or escape. Anyway, for a women-in-prison movie, this particular film requires viewers to use their imagination a bit as there aren't too many scenes which capture the anguish or violence normally seen in movies of this type. Along with that, except for Tanya Roberts, the rest of the cast suffers badly from a lack of character development. Additionally, while Tanya Roberts certainly performed well enough, she simply wasn't able to carry the movie all by herself. Slightly below average.
    manufacture

    Actually it has really happened

    Read dozens reviews and wandered why people are so close-eyed. The film shows a real-like story happened in Rhodesia, sorry, after fall of Rhodesia, the newly created independent state of Zimbabwe. Clearly shown Russian red flags. Clearly shown Cuban militants and Castro portraits. Accurate image of American diplomats who imitated protection of the US citizens.

    Absolutely, this documentary styled film critically depicted both totalitarian communists system and lair US policy.

    This was a deep satirical political message of people of South Africa who felt a close catastrophe after the silent betrayal of UK and US. They had seen what happened in Rhodesia and they knew that same will occur in their native land.

    After the several years the people of South Africa has been expelled from their land. Developed country was ruined, gangs expanded by country, garbage and blood made the streets unfit for living. Majority of the population fled from country for ten years.

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    Related interests

    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In this 1988 movie Purgatory, Tanya Roberts was the lead character. Eleven years later in 1999, Eric Roberts (no relation) was the lead character in a movie also named Purgatory. The two movies did not resemble each other in plot or theme.
    • Quotes

      Bledsoe: [Chasing Carly after she has escaped] Beautiful bitch!

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    FAQ14

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 14, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • South Africa
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Purgatorio
    • Filming locations
      • South Africa
    • Production companies
      • International Media Exchange
      • Kingsway
      • The Film Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 29m(89 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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