La jaula desnuda

Writer / director Paul Nicholas, who'd previously done the Linda Blair classic "Chained Heat", returns to the Women In Prison genre for this diverting bag of cinematic trash. Although it doesn't offer anything that W.I.P. fans haven't seen before, it still goes through its paces adequately, offering gore, atmosphere and titillation in respectable doses. The supporting cast is largely nondescript, but there are a few performers that stand out, which I'll get to in a moment. The movie does have a fair bit of set-up; the main character doesn't get to the prison until 16 minutes of screen time have gone by. But once she's there, there's plenty of sordid melodrama to keep an exploitation fanatic amused.

Lovely Shari Shattuck of 'The Young and the Restless' fame stars as Michelle, whose bank is held up by her no-count husband Willy (John Terlesky, "Chopping Mall"), who's met a ferocious femme fatale named Rita (Christina Whitaker) who has put him up to it. The robbery goes awry, and after all is said and done Rita falsely claims in court that Michelle was a willing participant, which gets Michelle sent to the slam for three years.

You get what you pay for with "The Naked Cage". Lesbian encounters? Check. Shower scenes? Check. Repulsive male characters such as rapist guard Smiley (Nick Benedict)? Check. And of course there's the usual corrupt warden (B movie veteran Angel Tompkins, "The Teacher") who's always got something going on. The ladies in this thing are enjoyable to watch; Shattuck is appealing as the "good girl" heroine who definitely takes her lumps before this is over. Faith Minton has an undeniable presence as butch top con Sheila. Buffs will note the presence of Carole Ita White ('Laverne & Shirley'), who'd already appeared in "Hellhole", "Chained Heat", and "The Concrete Jungle". Larry Gelman ('The Bob Newhart Show', 'The Odd Couple', "Chatterbox") has a cameo as the prison doctor. But it's the intense Whitaker who dominates things with a campy portrayal of a vindictive and vicious character.

All in all, if you're a devotee of this genre, you may not be blown away by "The Naked Cage" but you should have a pretty good time.

Seven out of 10.

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.

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?