Violence in a Women’s Prison
Another World Entertainment
R2 DVD
Violence in a Women’s Prison
(1982) Violenza in un carcere femminile
aka Caged Women is a Women in Prison
exploitation film by the Italian B grade film maker Bruno Mattei. It stars
Laura Gemser as Emanuelle who goes undercover to expose the vicious brutality
of the prison system. She finds herself in one of the most dangerous women’s
institutions ruled by vicious and brutal guards and a truly psychopathic prison
warden. As her identity is revealed, she is beaten and tortured, but after
initiating a riot she is able to escape and the prison authorities finally get
their just deserts.
Mattei
has created a moody and atmospheric title which includes its share sleaze and
brutality. The AWE print is of excellent quality except for a few “blips” in
the audio. It has a synthesizer score from Luigi Ceccarelli which while dated
and a bit over the top certainly drives the film along.
The
adjoining male prison is filled with violence, brutality, riots and sodomy,
while the female prison is marked by lesbianism, abuse, drugs and corruption.
Mattei shows an excellent use of cinematography and there are some impressive
set pieces, though the acting leaves a bit to be desired.
A
scene which comes to find is about 30 minutes into the film is a good example,
two prisoners are taken to the warden’s cell where they are encouraged to
pleasure each other. As their moans echo through the prison, guards watch with
voyeuristic pleasure and the camera moves to other cells as prisoners
masturbate or pleasure each other. The warden pleasures herself with a baton
and then in an explosive of fury beats the women in a fit of anger.
There
are many scenes which work well including the impressive girl fight between the
prison guards and Emanuelle when she refuses to empty a bucket of shit and when
pressed throws it all over them. The guards and Emanuelle wrestle in the mess
beating the hell out of each other.
Emanuelle is then placed in isolation where rats are poured into the
cell biting her all over.
Other
set pieces including girl fights, a rape scene set up by the prison warden for
her voyeuristic entertainment and the use of a bell to torture Emanuelle and
force her to admit she works for the press.
Mattei
does try to cover some serious issues such as prison abuse, Euthanasia and even
reflects on homosexual rights, though the gay character is fairly
stereotypical.
This
is an unusual women in prison film in that while it has the requisite lesbian
action, girl fights and evil wardens, it is not as heavy handed as most in the
genre. Indeed with its questionable acting and bizarre scenes at times it is
more humorous than anything else. It is certainly lots of fun and the release
from AWE is fully uncut.
Reviews appear on the Synergy website with
a single cover image. In the digital and print edition, reviews appear with
multiple images and with expanded content. We recommend you download the free digital edition (or buy the print edition) to get the most from Synergy Magazine.
This review will appear in Volume 3 No.3 of the digital and print
edition of Synergy Magazine.
If you came to this page directly (and
missed our menu), click here to go to the
front page of Synergy Magazine Website or use the following link: http://www.synergy-magazine.com