La cage

Did not expect much in the first place before watching 'Maximum Security'. As said with a few films reviewed recently, it sounded interesting, but it did look like a not very well made, ridiculous and by the numbers film with not particularly good actors, although Dolph Lundgren is watchable in other things.

Saw 'Maximum Security' anyway out of curiosity, being intrigued by the idea and having been a lot of low-budget films recently (most not very good to put it lightly). Seeing it, 'Maximum Security' turned out to be more or less, make that exactly even, what was expected. Except worse. It doesn't even start off well, not much grabs the attention. The film got even worse very quickly and never recovered or improved. Actually got pretty much worse as it progressed.

On a visual level, 'Maximum Security' looked shoddy. Drab and simplistic, with haphazard editing, far from slick photography and very artificial-looking effects

The sound is very poorly recorded (one doesn't expect a film from 2017 to sound like something from 50 years or so before), the music is one-note and repetitive and the direction has no sense of atmosphere or pacing, nothing to be thrilled by and nothing much engaging.

'Maximum Security's' script is awkward-sounding and ponderous, with lines that do make one cringe. A lot of it is gibberish and juvenile, with a stilted improvisatory feel that shouldn't have made it past draft stages.

On top of that, the story goes through the motions with no tension, suspense or thrills, a lot of intelligence-insulting ridiculousness, implausibility and pacing so dull that it makes a reasonably short length much longer. The action sequences are more preposterous and by the numbers than they are thrilling or fun, that is when they are used, for such a title, idea and cover 'Maximum Security' is very short on the quantity of the action. The terrible way they look also hinder them. A few of the stunts are okay but nothing more than that.

Characters are basically every stereotype in the book it seems and are one-dimensional caricatures with no likeability or development and with the inability to behave logically. The acting is very poor, with Dolph Lundgren (who can be watchable) looking uncomfortable, even then he is the least bad actor here. Even Corbin Bernson is not good. The ending makes no sense and the climactic moments are rushed, anti-climactic and things feel poorly tied up, with too much happening stupidly and too easily.

Overall, a mess. 1/10 Bethany Cox

A friend of mine told me, after I watched the movie, that production broke down, because of money issues. He thought the movie would never get finished when he read that. So you can say in a way, good for them they found a way to finish it, but you can also say, a shame it got made under this circumstances at all. And even Dolph can't save it.

Not to mention an ending, that only makes sense if you know the production issues. Also an anti-climactic scene with the villain, that makes him look like a boy scout. But again, everything making sense when you think about the money issues. Then again, does that play a role in your "enjoyment" of the movie? At least there are some nice action scenes/stunts ...

The film is entertaining, but not exceptional in any particular ways.

The film is well acted, and it's shame it is sold as a big action set piece for Lundgren. It is more of suspense thriller. Lundgren play a reckless robber and does a good job. However the fight scene I found to be quite average, I have seen Lundgren do much better in recent years. There was something off and I can't quite put my finger on it. I have seen the director direct action and he is good and Lundgren is a seasoned vet. So I can't understand what happened.

The movie does have a solid script, the cast are uniformly good, well edited, lit, the sets are goods, and it moves.

For a Lundgren film, it is much superior compared to many of recent Lundgren outputs a lot less good compared to his recent gems.

Probably the worst movie I've seen this year. Only thing worse than the acting was the dialogue and the 2-note soundtrack. (Hmm I wonder why it is necessary to have 5 lines minimum here. This movie was not worth wasting any more than 2 lines on! I prefer to be recommending films but when I can't, I just don't want to be really derogatory.)

I think 3.5/10 is more accurate but if I finish any of these below 4/10 movies on IMDB I round up

Personally, most things rated 3/10 or lower on IMDb I have probably turned off after 30 mins as they're unwatchable.

This film was not unwatchable, close but not. Sadly it's boring and very, very forgettable. I honestly can't remember how it started...

All of the actors looked bored here and it's a shame as its shot pretty well and a movie set in a prison should throw up some tension but it's all flat with bored performances

Even Dolph looks like he's bored here!

Shame as the ending could have been fun with a bit more of a build up.

I would not recommend this movie. Even Dolph fans should skip.