User reviews

After a drug sting operation goes bad with the death of 2 cops and the accidental death of the dealer, the cop who pretended to be a buyer in the sting is arrested some time later at his home where a search turns up money and drugs in the mattress of his bed. It is insinuated that he deliberately killed the dealer and his ass is sent to a prison where a criminal he sent away years before is running a "cage fighting" operation in the basement (Well, where else they gonna hold it?). At some point in the course of his stay, it is impressed on him by said criminal that he has to participate in the fights and "no" was not an option.

While this movie is a cliché of the genre (guy in prison fights to survive in illegal prison matches), it isn't unoriginality that necessarily spoils it because even original ideas can be executed badly. By the same token, old ideas can be done well. If you like clear, methodical, workman-like exchanges in your fight scenes you might not be happy with the "music video-editing-and-effects-type" of fighting employed here. Mind you, I think the music in this movie is good, and I like music videos --BUT-- this was a bit much. The whole film in retrospect seemed to me like one very long music video even though there were actually scenes without music. I wonder why?

Further, because of the way certain things were thoughtlessly thrown into this movie it seems to me that the people who made it were being exploitive and were probably using a formula directed at the younger crowd: hard rock and rap, visual effects (lots of slow mo & fast mo), and a little T&A thrown into the mix for good measure. So. Music, ass-whippings, and ass. A formula for success, no? "Not necessarily" is what this movie proves.

Instead of loud music, video editing and effects, the fight scenes should have been bare and workman-like; just 2 guys in a cage, mano a mano, showing their technique and the size of their balls with the only sound coming from their contacts and the crowd watching. This, by itself, with the same tired story-line would have been a great improvement. That said, the movie is not "worthless". It can provide "light entertainment" for the individual who just wants to kickback and not think too much. As well, if you can't get enough of music videos and don't mind your movie essentially turning into one, you could get something from this.

The guy wrongly convicted

The sadistic guard

The clueless or corrupt warden

The prison bully

The helpful cell-mate

The mess hall encounter

The threats

The showdown at the end

Can anyone put the list above to music? It should be a song by now. Love, Boloxxxi.

There are just to many newbie's to the acting field in this movie. You can tell who is new by noticing the ones who absolutely can't act. The story seems more of a remake of Undisputed 2; and not a very good one.

If you have seen Undisputed 2 you have seen this movie as well.

Undisputed 2 is much better.

The acting is just bad... The speech is not smooth, it is as if they are still reading their lines, the fight scenes for the most part are not fluid and hugely tell tell signs of choreograph; I don't even know why they even both to pull punches any decent fighter can see it moving in slow motion with plenty of time to counter.

Don't bother to watch this movie if only for your favorite MMA fighter, they just have a short intro cameo.

basically it is a CRAPPY version of undisputed 2.

ohh where to begin????this film has poor fight scenes,the look like they were choreographed by a 5 year old. the acting is terrible, the cast look like they are plucked straight from the street and they act like it. on the plus side though the main character puts this funny batman accent on (think Christian bale meets keanu reeves high on speed.)the film looks cheap, it has an unbelievable storyline which defines logic in some places. and these are all the good points. rubbish film, waste of 90 minutes. if you want to see a good prison fighting film, watch undisputed 1,2 or 3 (2 is my favourite) this film is a rip off of all 3 of these films, and a poor 1 at that.

Well, I have a fondness for b movies however this is likely the worst movie I have seen ... possibly ever. The acting is sub par even for a "Tap Out" movie with the best acting job being done by Kimbo... and that was mostly grunts and swears. Tony Schiena's acting is... well I don't know if you can really call it acting. Tack on a pointless and rather cheap looking sex scene and it's a recipe for a failed and embarrassing movie.

By the way, I noted that IMDb has a bio on Tony, and after a bit of checking, I have concluded that it's mostly (if not entirely) fictitious.

He claims to be a world champion Karateka, but doesn't include what organization, style or any other details. The bio is done by some company in England that I am pretty sure is his own as they have not reviewed anyone else on IMDb. He's got videos on You Tube titled "World Champion" consisting of a few seconds of blurry action in some sort of local karate tournament, with rave reviews by people that I can only assume are himself. All in all... really cheap.

Which brings me to the last point. Action. All the fighting looks like it's done by drunk bears. Repetitive screaming and waving your arms around is not martial arts.

On the other hand... if you really like bad movies, this is likely the worst, so it's got that going for it.

Nothing new or innovating here. I didn't like some performances, especially Tony Schiena's performance, who was not convincing at all when he was talking; a bit better when he was fighting though.

The whole movie was very predictable, like you seen it before and know what happens in each step. Because of the low budget, the fight scenes were mediocre at least, but overall I give it a five out of ten as it is still watchable, despite its faults.

I agree with one reviewer the undisputed 3 was way better, but I guess its budget was higher too. I would be interested to know if the make any profits out of this movie.

When viewed in the correct context this low budget (est. $1.6mn) action film achieves it's objective in providing the audience with mindless entertainment whilst showcasing great martial arts sequences.

Yes more of the budget could have been allocated towards enhancing the production value but ultimately this hits all the key notes of an 80's formula martial arts film......a simple story that creates the backdrop from which to thread together the escalating fight sequences which attract viewers to this genre.

If you're looking for a serious action film in the frame of "Bourne Identity" or even "The Expendables" then this isn't for you........if however you're in the mood for cheap thrills and casual amusement then this could be a ride worth taking.

Vinnie Jones continues to deliver his trademark edgy persona as Tony Schiena uses the platform to showcase his potential to grow into a genuine Action Star in the guise of Viggo Mortensen.

I like this movie. OK, they didn't spend (or waste) a lot of money and the story is not "Gone with the wind". But inside its limits I have enjoyed it a lot. First of all, I found it very entertaining. Much more entertaining, in fact, that many Hollywood blockbusters. Second, I really think that Tony Schiena is a good actor for this kind of action stuff, this is my first time to watch him on the screen but his fine performance (cool but also human and believable) deserves my respect. I was surprised too because fighting are built into a dramatic story that makes sense for me. This is a violent film but not only a film about violence, I found more topics in it: friendship, honor, loyalty, family. If I can complain about something, it is only Bai Ling's waste performance. This actress deserves something better than appear only some minutes with a few lines of dialog. Watch "Red corner" or "The beautiful country" and you will understand what I am talking about.

A film that has soaked up principles of failure in unispirated action films. Schiena is as pale as the color of the film when it flickers on a screen. Nonsense that you don't have to see.

Where is the Zero stars ???

I fast forwarded the whole thing after watching 5 minutes.

Can't believe this qualifies as a movie!

My friends and I did better movies back in the 90's with a standard VHS camera on the shoulder!!

Not in content but in terms of maturity and plot this film is generified to the point you could have seen this movie without actually having seen it.

In short third generation cop gets set up, locked up with the criminals he's put behind bars, corrupt warden, sadistic CO, slutty CO, the entire prison is run by a convict, cop is forced to join an underground fight club. He quickly rises and defeats any challenger in his way (let me get this straight white cop who's main weapon of defense is a gun is able to best prisoners who have nothing to do with their lives besides fight and workout only DAYS after getting shanked) until he inevitably confronts the man who set him up. He also meets a long haired martial arts master who helps him to overcome his challenge.

This film features plenty of sex, violence, and no plot. Within the first ten minutes there's gratuitous nudity and a sex scene that's probably aimed at the films likely underage immature audience.

Lots of profanity that (having grown up in the most profane of environments) I've never heard used before. The protagonist (who oddly enough doesn't appear next to the big names on the film's poster) spends the entire film trying different accents and tones of voices to sound like a badass grizzly bear.

In short what this film lacks in acting, plot, making sense, originality it makes up for in violence and sex. It's like a two hour porno with great production values. Wouldn't recommend to anybody.

In the 80s this might have worked more than fine. But having a lead that does not have the charisma to carry the movie on his shoulder, throwaway female roles (Bai Ling reduced to almost nothing and therefor criminally underused, no pun intended) and other stuff that does not add to make this movie any better.

The fight scenes overall are decent, but not as spectacular as others in similar movies I've seen. And that is a "neck" breaker, because you don't expect much in the story department, but there should be something in the action department. While there are worse movies out there, there are better. Even Vinnie Jones has done better roles and movies ...

I feel this movie had everything needed in a good movie, there was action, suspense, and some really great fighters who i think did pretty awesome in the fight scenes. Usually you can tell that there is no connection with the hits in fight scenes, but in this movie the hits looked like they all really did connect. Especially considering some hadn't acted before they were believable in their characters. Some new faces to the movie scene added to my interest as I recognized them as well. It had a good story line and even some romance, what more could you want in a movie, i was very impressed! Without giving anything away I feel that the only part that could have been tweaked a little bit would have been making there more of a believable build up of the romance part of the movie. Otherwise it's a solid movie that I recommend to anyone who loves a good fight movie!

I know this film didn't have a big budget like the ones many are comparing it to, but I judge a film by it's own merits. And to me a formula plot, especially in an action film, means I get what I paid for. The fight scenes were very stylized and music-driven, which added tons of excitement for me. Even with a low budget, the fights were awesome.

Okay, so the lead was a little stiff and needed more dimension, but I saw him as a Dirty Harry-type, or Christian Bale's Batman. Vinnie Jones was great - he stole every scene he was in and he's just a great bad ass. The MMA fighters were intense and provided a better performance than I expected. Plus, I got my dose of T&A in all the right places.

If you want a re-invention of the prison fight film, then perhaps you may not rate Locked Down at the top (though it's still worth a rental if you're a fan of the genre by any stretch). But if you want your blood, action and vengeance served to you without reservations, then Locked Down is your ticket. I thoroughly enjoyed this film.

This film is intense, off the wall and little sexy!!

Every film has a few things to complain about but i didn't have any problems sitting through it and I loved the soundtrack!!

All films have their story line point to hit this one had a few as well 1. reason to got to jail (or be set up) 2. The dame that comes to rescue the inmate and get him off 3.Crooked warden and guard 4. the man to help the set up realize his potential and get out and do right by him

WELL DONE!! Great cast and quality!

I highly recommend you check it out!!

I want not be very critic about this film. Obvious, its target is so precise than nothing against it matters. But the chance to be little better remains and the regret, to. Nothing original. A very old recipe of action films about cops in prison, revenges, survive, the wise venerable friend and the pure bad guy are present. And, maybe, the presence, more than acting , of Vinnie Jones can works for sustain this...film.

So , not exactly bad , but the sex scenes, the presence of women gardiens in a men jail, the low effort for choreography in the fight scenes, the dialogues are the sins of a film who presumed can be mediocre .

But, sure, the public reigns .