see the movie was because Charles Band Produced via his Empire Pictures production company.Now many many years later, I've been all to aware of the highs and lows of Renny Harlin's career if we forget about the lows, let's remember the high that was 'The Adventures Of Ford Fairlane' and we followers of Charles Band all know what happened to Empire Pictures hence the involvement of Irwin Yablans as a co producer on this specific project.Some might say that haunted prison flicks are a dime a dozen, but back in 1988, I had never watched any, of course I've more than made up for that now, the vast majority have all skipped off into the mystic, but 'Prison' has long remained a firm favourite of mine.Having earned his directing stripes on 'Born American' director Renny Harlin honed his visual eye to great effect with many a creepy set piece, and ably assisted by a very literate script by the excellent C.Courtney Joyner for an example of Joyner's prowess as a scriptwriter, check out 'Trancers 3 & 'Doctor Mordrid' .The cast of characters whilst stock in trade, firmly uproot themselves from familiarity, and the actors involved really acquit themselves beyond all recall giving the unfolding scenario a real sense of reality, of course this all helps when they shot the movie in a real life prison somewhere in Wyoming.Special Effects supremo John Carl Beuchler adds his usual aplomb to the proceedings when it comes to the executing the special effects set pieces, somehow you can always tell when John Carl had a hand in the gruesome set pieces, one specific that comes to mind is when Larry Flash Jenkins meets his grisly demise within the confines of solitary confinement, the prop head used reminded of his character creation in the very excellent 'Cellar Dweller'.Such things of note should not diminish the finished product, because when John Carl Beuchler gets involved in any project you will always be guaranteed top quality on screen delights.When it comes to highs and lows or dare I say skeleton's in the closet, to think that Viggo Mortensen took on the starring role, I think he should be very proud of his involvement with this project.Also please note Lane Smith's involvement essaying the role of Warden Eaton Sharpe, his exchange with Chelsea Field near the beginning of the movie more or less sets the tone for the entire movie.Once again this is a classic example of when all the elements were in place, Empire Pictures really nailed the finished product.To borrow the line that Lane Smith speaks to Chelsea Field, 'Not a pleasant place to spend one's life, is it Miss Walker! If you spend eighty minutes plus of your life with this movie, you will find yourself just rewarded.In 1956 Charles Forsythe was sent to the chair.....Now he's back! with that in mind....come get some! A resounding 10 out of 10!

Wyoming prison, re-opened for the cause of over-population in other, more modern state penitentiaries. Inside the former execution dungeons, the restless spirit of the electric chair's last victim still dwells around. The now promoted warden Eaton Sharpe Lane Smith was there already 40 years ago, when this innocent man was put to death, and the spirit still remembers his vile role in the unfair trial. It seems that the time for vengeance has finally arrived. Viggo Mortensen plays the good car thief who has to prevent an even larger body count and Chelsea Field is the humane social worker who slowly unravels the secrets from the past."Prison" contains over half a dozen memorable gore sequences but it's the unbearably tense atmosphere that'll stick to you for certain! Unlike any other horror picture from that decade, "Prison" features an amazing sense of realism! By this, I refer to the authentic scenery and the mood inside the prison walls, of course, and not towards the supernatural murders that are being committed... even though these are genuinely unsettling as well. The film's best parts are images of realistic and tough prison-drama sequences combined with visual mayhem and shocking horror. The absolute best terror-moment providing me with nightmares ever since I saw it at rather young age focuses on a grizzly death-struggle involving barbed wire. Haunting!! The screenplay only suffers one flaw, but that's a common one...almost inevitable, I guess: clichés! The story introduces nearly every possible stereotype there is in a prison surrounding. We've got the ugly, fat pervert with his 'cute' boy-toy, the cowardly and racist guard avoids confrontation at all costs and – naturally – the old 'n wise black con who serves a lifetime did I hear anybody yell the name Morgan Freeman? Don't stare yourself blind on these clichés is my advise, as there are so many other elements to admire. The photography is dark and moist, the mystery is upheld long and successfully and the supportive inmate-roles of class B-actors are excellent the fans will recognize Tom Everett, Tom 'Tiny' Lister and even immortal horror icon Kane Hodder . Forget about Wes Craven's god-awful attempt "Shocker" or the downright pathetic cheese-flick "the Chair". This is the only prison chiller worth tracking down! Especially considering Viggo Mortensen peaking popularity nowadays I heard he starred in a successful franchise involving elves, Hobbits and other fairy creatures... this true 80's horror gem oughts to get an urgent DVD-release!

years previous, a condemned man had been unfairly sent to the electric chair, under the watchful eye of guard Ethan Sharpe the late, great character actor Lane Smith, in a rare lead role . Now Sharpe is the warden of the prison and he will find that he, his staff, and the cons will all be fair game for that long ago condemned man who's now a vengeance crazed spirit. Among those caught up in the nightmare are Burke Viggo Mortensen , a laid back car thief, Katherine Walker Chelsea Field , a woman from the State Board with reform on the brain, and Cresus Lincoln Kilpatrick , a veteran con.This marked the American directing debut for action and horror specialist Renny Harlin, and it definitely got him noticed, as his next film would be the fourth entry in the "Nightmare on Elm Street" series. It also provided a nifty showcase for stunt coordinator Kane Hodder, who plays the sadistic ghost; he of course would debut as Jason Voorhees in the seventh "Friday the 13th" film later the same year. The mechanical effects and the gore are both superb. The music by Richard Band and Christopher L. Stone is very appropriate throughout, and the lighting by Mac Ahlberg is extremely moody from start to finish. The movie doesn't skimp on the horror, and maintains a fever pitch at all times, working its way towards a pull-out-all-the-stops finale.The young Mortensen displays a natural sense of cool in one of his earliest roles, and Smith is wonderful as a real s.o.b. type of character. The fine cast also features such players as Tom Everett as the antsy, escape-prone Rabbitt, Ivan Kane as the personable Lasagna, Andre De Shields as the intense Sandor, Tommy "Tiny" Lister as a hulking inmate, Mickey Yablans son of producer Irwin Yablans, who concocted the story for the film as a young con, and Arlen Dean Snyder as the captain of the guards."Prison" is well worth checking out for die hard horror buffs eager to discover the less heralded productions from the 1980s, a decade dominated by the slasher film but which also provided us with some nifty gems like this. It's also irresistible for the chance to watch a group of young talents near the beginning of their careers.Eight out of 10.

admirable skill and brio. C. Courtney Joyner's crafty script puts an ingeniously nightmarish spin on various familiar prison movie clichés which include a brutally thwarted attempted escape, a grisly ruckus in the cafeteria, and a rousing climactic riot and subsequent break out. Viggo Mortensen does well in an early lead role as cagey car thief Burke. The fine acting by the rest of the tip-top cast keeps the picture on track: Chelsea Field as the feisty prison reformer Katherine Walker, Lincoln Kilpatrick as weary and venerable old felon Cresus, Tom Everett as twitchy weasel Rabbitt, Ivan Kane as macho meathead Lassagna, Andre De Shields as voodoo practitioner Sandor, Tiny Lister as the hulking Tiny, Stephen E. Little as monstrous predatory top con Rhino, Mickey Yablans as the timid Brian, and Arlen Dean Snyder as hard-nosed prison guard captain Horton. The spare rattling score by Richard Band and Christopher Stone further enhances the overall eerie tone. Mac Ahlberg's exceptionally moody and stylish cinematography rates as another significant asset. An on the money little scarefest.

be considered a stellar - cast. I still think most of the Nordic contribution to the film industry as a whole is more to do with Stellan Stargaard's screen appearances not mentioning the well overrated Mr s Bergman directorial efforts - at least for all female viewers - but this flick really proves there does exist proper movie talent outside of the US and Hollywood to make us watch a film in suspense. Do try and watch this movie even if you're not a horror puff, IMO it's definitely worth it!