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Animal Factory

  • 2000
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
15K
YOUR RATING
Willem Dafoe and Edward Furlong in Animal Factory (2000)
Home Video Trailer from Columbia Tristar
Play trailer1:08
2 Videos
51 Photos
Prison DramaCrimeDrama

A young man goes to prison and a tough, older convict takes him under his wing as a mentor.A young man goes to prison and a tough, older convict takes him under his wing as a mentor.A young man goes to prison and a tough, older convict takes him under his wing as a mentor.

  • Director
    • Steve Buscemi
  • Writers
    • Edward Bunker
    • John Steppling
  • Stars
    • Willem Dafoe
    • Edward Furlong
    • Danny Trejo
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    15K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Steve Buscemi
    • Writers
      • Edward Bunker
      • John Steppling
    • Stars
      • Willem Dafoe
      • Edward Furlong
      • Danny Trejo
    • 82User reviews
    • 51Critic reviews
    • 65Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos2

    Animal Factory
    Trailer 1:08
    Animal Factory
    Animal Factory
    Trailer 1:14
    Animal Factory
    Animal Factory
    Trailer 1:14
    Animal Factory

    Photos51

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    Top cast71

    Edit
    Willem Dafoe
    Willem Dafoe
    • Earl Copen
    Edward Furlong
    Edward Furlong
    • Ron Decker
    Danny Trejo
    Danny Trejo
    • Vito
    Mark Boone Junior
    Mark Boone Junior
    • Paul Adams
    Seymour Cassel
    Seymour Cassel
    • Lt. Seeman
    Mickey Rourke
    Mickey Rourke
    • Jan the Actress
    Tom Arnold
    Tom Arnold
    • Buck Rowan
    John Heard
    John Heard
    • James Decker
    Chris Bauer
    Chris Bauer
    • Bad Eye
    Rockets Redglare
    Rockets Redglare
    • Big Rand
    Jake La Botz
    • Jesse
    • (as Jake LaBotz)
    Mark Engelhardt
    Mark Engelhardt
    • T.J.
    Edward Bunker
    Edward Bunker
    • Buzzard
    Victor Pagan
    • Psycho Mike
    Ernest Harden Jr.
    Ernest Harden Jr.
    • Richland
    Afemo Omilami
    Afemo Omilami
    • Captain Midnight
    Michael Buscemi
    Michael Buscemi
    • Mr. Herrell
    J.C. Quinn
    J.C. Quinn
    • Ivan McGhee
    • Director
      • Steve Buscemi
    • Writers
      • Edward Bunker
      • John Steppling
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews82

    6.615.4K
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    Featured reviews

    7tomgillespie2002

    Quietly powerful in small moments

    Steve Buscemi's first feature as director was Trees Lounge, an engaging drama about the bored, alcohol-drenched inhabitants of a small town, and their day-to-day interactions. For his second, Buscemi explores many of the same themes of aimlessness and having too much time on your hands, but changes the setting and tone entirely. Adapting Eddie Bunker's novel of the same name (the real- life ex-con also shares script writing duties with John Steppling), Animal Factory is about as unglamorous as prison drama gets. With a heightened sense of realism, violence and rape lurk at every turn, often happening so quickly that you barely have the chance to comprehend it. Buscemi and Bunker also find time to explore an engaging father-and-son relationship, albeit one taut with tension and distrust.

    After receiving an incredibly harsh sentence for drug possession, young Ron Decker (Edward Furlong) is packed off to prison where his youthful looks quickly attracts unwanted attention. Proving himself to be completely ill-equipped to handle the danger he faces, he is taken in by the shaven-headed Earl Copen (Willem Dafoe), who teaches him the ropes and how to spot a threat. A man of little physical prowess, Earl has risen to a position of authority by using his background in law to improve the living and working standards of his fellow inmates. Surrounded by his gang of trusted bruisers (including Danny Trejo, Mark Boone Junior, and The Wire's Chris Bauer), Earl promises to protect the vulnerable Ron. Pondering Earl's true intentions, Ron at first keeps the smiling convict at arm's length, until a bond is formed that just may help the young offender to make it out alive.

    By shaping the drama in the most unsensational way imaginable, Buscemi adds the necessary grit to Bunker's knowing words, with many of Bunker's novels taking inspiration from his own time in the slammer. Performances impress across the board, as you would expect from an ensemble taking direction from such a seasoned pro (who also appears). In particular, there are memorable roles for Mickey Rourke, playing Furlong's motor-mouthed, transvestite cell-mate, and, of all people, Tom Arnold, who is unnervingly convincing as a predatory rapist with his eye on Ron. But the film belongs to its two leads. Dafoe brings extra layers to his somewhat sensitive gang leader, and Furlong, one of many promising young actors who emerged in the 90s to disappear into the ether, is particularly effective as the protagonist. Changing his behaviour to suit his surroundings, we see the prison sculpt him into the type of career criminal the system's suppose to prevent. While the matter-of-fact approach prevents it from generating any real momentum - despite an attempted prison-break climax - Animal Factory is quietly powerful in small moments.
    martymaster

    A good prison movie.

    Over the years there have been made many prison movies,but I dont think many of them really reflect how terrible a prison is.I think this movie shows it in a more realistic way than many other movies.The movie tells us that you got to have connections within the prison to survive and that friends are everything.This movie is the portrait of a young boy who ends up in a prison,and luckily he gets introduced with one of the leaders among the white inmates and therefor has a chance. In the roles you'll find Willem Dafoe (which does a wonderful job in this movie) and Edward Furlong who also is very good.As some other inmates you'll find Danny Trejo who always looks really tough and scary and Mickey Rourke in totally new role that I never thought would work for him.See the movie and find out what I am talking about.
    8Barclayandrew

    Highly Recommended

    Although the DVD cover draws attention to another great prison movie (The ShawShank Redemtion), 'Animal Factory' is actually closer in style and content the equally good 'Midnight Express'. Without revealing the plot, Edward Furlong finds himself in deep trouble and is sent to prison for what emerges to be longer than his crime should permit. Here he meets and is befriended by Willem Defoe's character, the prison gang leader of sorts. Furlong, young, alone and vulnerable finds himself taken under the wing of Defoe, which amongst other benefits's, offers him some security against buggery. All the acting is first class, and the direction is snappy enough to keep the viewer entertained until the films climax. Keep a look out for Mickey Rourke's fantastic cameo, had he been given more screen time he would have stolen the show. A must see.
    Infofreak

    Low key but interesting prison drama. Recommended.

    As a fan of Steve Buscemi's underrated 'Trees Lounge', his acting, and of many of his co-stars in this movie, I eagerly anticipated watching 'Animal Factory'. I thought it was going to be a confronting and violent prison story, mainly because of the involvement of Edward Bunker ('Runaway Train', 'Reservoir Dogs'), who adapts his own novel (with the help of scriptwriter John Steppling, who also co-wrote the excellent '52 Pick-Up'). However, the movie was a lot more low key, character driven and less confrontational than I had expected. Even so, it's still very good.

    Buscemi himself only has a small acting role in the movie (as does Bunker), the real stars being Willem Dafoe ('Light Sleeper', ) as a savvy long term convict, and Edward Furlong ('Pecker') as the young inmate who becomes his protege. Dafoe and Furlong are supported by an impressive cast of character actors, including Buscemi cronies Seymour Cassel ('Rushmore'), Mark Boone, Jr ('Memento') and the late Rockets Redglare ('Down By Law'), all 'Trees Lounge' veterans, ex-con tough guy Danny Trejo ('Heat'), John Heard ('After Hours'), and impressive cameos from Tom Arnold ('True Lies') as a psycho rapist, and Mickey Rourke ('Barfly') as a flamboyant transvestite. Rourke, one of the finest actors of his generation, will hopefully get his career back on track if the solid work he displays here and his notable cameo in 'The Pledge' is anything to go by.

    'Animal Factory' is a first rate effort from Buscemi, who joins Sean Penn and Vincent Gallo as the most promising actors turned directors currently making American movies. More power to him, and I hope his next project makes it to the screen sometime soon. In today's current climate of cinematic mediocrity and childish blockbusters we need more film makers like them with passion, intelligence and integrity.
    7Hey_Sweden

    A solid example of the prison film genre.

    Ron Decker (Edward Furlong) is busted for dealing marijuana. He comes from privilege, but the court is determined to make an example out of him, to prove that they show no favouritism among criminals. Shortly after his arrival in prison, he's able to make the acquaintance of Earl Copen (Willem Dafoe), a veteran convict who takes Ron under his wing.

    As anybody familiar with the late actor / writer / former convict Edward Bunker could expect, this simply drips with authenticity. Director Steve Buscemi opts to go for gritty realism, and achieves it masterfully. He doesn't concern himself with being flashy or stylistic, and creates an utterly convincing environment. What's commendable about "Animal Factory" is that it goes for more nuance than one might expect, and doesn't merely deal in stereotypes when it comes to the convict characters. Buscemi also fills the cast with an excellent ensemble of his peers. He filmed this at the actual Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia.

    Furlong is just right in his role; he's no wide eyed innocent, for sure; his character is no stereotype, either. But it's Dafoe who will command the viewers' attention. He performs with a subtle level of intensity and charisma. You can believe in Earl as a pivotal figure in this prison. An unrecognizable Mickey Rourke plays Rons' transvestite cellmate, and does it with a refreshing lack of exaggeration. The sterling group of actors also includes Danny Trejo, himself a former jailbird who made good (Trejo and Bunker are co-producers as well), Mark Boone Junior, Seymour Cassel, Tom Arnold, John Heard, Chris Bauer, J.C. Quinn, Larry Fessenden, and Buscemi himself.

    There's no melodrama here. Everything is appreciably under stated. Straightforward filming of Bunkers' novel and efficient storytelling make this a fine bit of entertainment.

    Seven out of 10.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Edward Bunker and Danny Trejo had served time together in the 1970's. In Bunkers autobiography, Education of a Felon, Trejo was the prison gossip.
    • Goofs
      Ron's hair when he first meets Earl.
    • Quotes

      Earl Copen: Better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven.

    • Soundtracks
      This Ain't the Way I Come Up (But It's the Way I'm Going Down)
      Written and Performed by Jake La Botz

      Published by Under the El Music (BMI)

      Administered by Bug Music Inc.

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    FAQ20

    • How long is Animal Factory?Powered by Alexa
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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 31, 2001 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Nhà Giam
    • Filming locations
      • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
    • Production companies
      • Animal Productions LLC
      • Arts Production Corporation
      • Franchise Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,600,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $43,805
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,746
      • Oct 22, 2000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $43,805
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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