La cage aux vices

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?

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.

A leggy sexy girl (Rita) in short shorts and cowboy boots somehow manages to hitch a ride from some dude driving a stolen red Corvette. They team up in a robbery/shooting and drag the dude's girlfriend (Michelle)into the fracas and she is convicted of armed robbery and is to serve 3 years.

Thrown into an all female prison, Michelle tries to cope with the the requisite evil warden, personal conflicts, bad guards, bad prisoners, but hey it IS prison.

Actually this film has a lot of social justice between the nude prisoners running around and kissing and making out. The blacks are segregated but Michelle bridges the divide and teams up with them to ferment a full fledged Attica style riot.

The big tough gal, Faith Minton, a centerpiece in the population, is tough enough to serve in a men's prison, where she would get respect.

Lots goes on in this above average prison flick, and it kinda reminds me of a female version of Brubaker. If you see it for $5, buy it or rent it for a fun evening of chic on chic action with some social justice thrown in.

Sadly the movie did not provide IMDb with practicals, i.e. photos of all cast members and bios. So faces are blank, making it hard to identify the actors.

Moral: avoid going to prison at all costs. Be a good citizen. Well, even that might not help you if you are framed.

"The Naked Cage" is a textbook anthology of "Women-In-Prison Drama" cliches (innocent heroine, sadistic warden, lesbianism, catfights, stabbings, riots, etc.). Watching it, you feel as if you're wallowing in a cesspool, and the fact that leading actress Shari Shattuck is not believable for a minute certainly doesn't help matters. At least Christina Whitaker is spirited and fun as the "wild" Rita. (*1/2)

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.