Cell 213

(2011) Cell 213 PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR

Cocky, philandering, lawyer, Michael Grey (Eric Balfour) who often attempts to free convicted murderers and rapists would do whatever it takes to win a case, even if it means resorting to unethical practices such as using scare tactics to scare crucial witnesses. Upon Michael visiting one of his clients, who's name is Charlie, who verbally confessed to raping and then killing an underage girl. Once conversing with Charlie at a closed room, he would then unexpectedly grab Michael's hand while holding his pen and then jab it onto his neck. Because there was no witnesses, except for the very resentful prison guard, Ray Clement (Michael Rooker) who just happened to walk in after Charlie was killed, Michael Grey then gets prosecuted and put in jail and placed into the same cell where, Charlie the child molester went berserk which is "Cell 213"- hence the title. And it is during this time is when Michael Grey start to hallucinate the same demons as Charlie. Watching this movie is like re-living a very bad dream since Michael Grey is an unlikable lawyer who frees admitted rapists and murderers, and as a result of attempting to receive the same treatment, he gets rejected from the very firm who hired him in the first place just because it has a reputation that needs to be respected. And although, this is a straight to rental movie, I like the direction this movie was conveying, which I started hating Michael to cheering for him, since he was portrayed as an underdog as the movie was progressing. I'd just wish there could've been a better ending since as the saying goes, "Two wrongs don't make it right"

Really the beginning of this film was the only thing that I felt was any good. Speaking from personal experience, cops can magically lose video of encounters when it suits them. Body cams are changing that, but 10 years ago that was not the case. That mandatory recording from the dash board used to "malfunction" when it needed to. I'm my state all it takes to be convicted of 3rd degree assault on an officer (felony), is two officers testimony. No other proof needed. Really happened and I'm sure happened a lot in the city I live in. Anyway, this is actually a pretty boring film. Not very realistic at least of where I had to go. They don't house many gang members (black, brown or white) together for example. Inmates in a morgue?? Cmon folks. Nope.

It was absolutely pointless. Wasted 2 hours of my life.

I mean, there were a lot of implausible things that happened in the movie, but what film these days aren't rife with implausibility's? I didn't think the overall acting was that bad. Sure, there were many images on display that one has seen before in Biblical-type horror movies, but they were well presented here.

Truth be told, like a lot of flicks I watch, I don't bother to research in depth what it's all about. All I knew going into "Cell 213" was that it was a horror film. I'd even forgotten about the fact that it was supposed to be some kind of factious exposition between God and the Devil. At least it wasn't preachy. That would've brought the ratings way down. I recommend this flick. Could've better, could've worse. Mileage may vary.

This is not really a review, it should be taken more as a collection of impressions of the film.

To say that this horror is bad and ridiculous is an understatement, this stuff is really stupid, everything that happens is stupid starting with how the lawyer arrives in prison up to the limited and tremendous deductive skills of the detective who wants to shed light on the matter in the stupidest way possible passing through the ending which is trivial but still really stupid. The only nice thing about the movie is the prison dynamics which are interesting and follow the protagonist's growing madness well, but other than that it's really ridiculous.