Just so...so bad

Brilliant and touching

Go in cold, and you're likely to emerge with your blood boiling. This has to be seen to be believed.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Trashy late-'80s/early-'90s American women-in-prison flick Caged Fury stars Roxanna Michaels as naive wannabe actress Kathie Collins, who travels from Utah to Los Angeles looking for fame and fortune, but who only finds misery and suffering after falling for a scam that sees her sent to a women's prison where the inmates are sold as sex slaves. When Kathie fails to call home after a few days, her big sister Tracy (Elena Sahagun) decides to try and find the missing girl, putting her own life in jeopardy in the process.Unlike the majority of women-in-prison movies, which are usually keen to get to the sleazy prison action as quickly as possible, Caged Fury spends a good third of its running time following Kathie as she falls in with drifter Rhonda (April Dawn Dollarhide), meets slimy Hollywood photographer Buck (Blake Bahner), goes sightseeing in downtown L.A., visits a scuzzy rock bar, almost gets raped by a gang of bikers, is rescued by friendly mercenaries Victor (C.H.I.P.s star Erik Estrada) and Dirk Ramsey (mulletted martial artist Richard Barathy), and auditions for a movie that turns out to be a porno (which forms part of the scam that results in her and Rhonda getting banged up). All of this is mildly entertaining, particularly with all the ghastly 90s fashion and music on display, but nowhere near as much fun as the action that takes place after the poor girl is thrown behind bars…Ruled by lesbian dominatrix Warden Sybil Thorn (Ty Randolph), Honeywell State Prison is home to numerous unfortunates who are forced to saunter around in sexy lingerie, take regular communal showers, and satisfy the wicked guards' needs, meaning that the film is loaded with nudity from desperate aspiring starlets and a handful of porn-stars masquerading as actresses (including Kascha, Tyffany Million, and Janine Lindemulder). Some of these women are complete bitches and cause trouble for Kathie, but this is swiftly dealt with by mean guard Spyder (Gregory Scott Cummins), who delights in punishing the inmates. Already stunned by her terrible predicament, Kathie is even more shocked when Tracey also gets herself thrown into jail as part of her ill-considered rescue plan.Things look up for the girls when Dirk, a veritable one-man killing machine, storms the prison (which turns out to be directly opposite Mann's Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard!); he karate chops and kicks his way through numerous guards (including porn legend Ron Jeremy), is overpowered and locked up, kicks his way through a solid brick wall, and squares off against the prison's massive head guard (played by Paul L. Smith, Bluto from Popeye!). Meanwhile, the sisters manage to escape and free many of the other inmates; with chaos all around, Warden Thorn orders her men to kill all of the prisoners. While they're busy blasting unarmed women in their cells, Spyder pursues Kathie, gets a fork jammed in his eye for his trouble, and is ultimately impaled on a crowbar by Rhonda.While not quite as mean-spirited or as sexually graphic as some women-in-prison movies (especially those from Europe and South America), this cheesy, nudity-filled, karate choppin' dollop of low-budget silliness still offers enough random sleaze and violence to make it a good time for B-movie fans and women-in-prison aficionados.6.5 out 10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb.

There's often a great deal of fun to be had finding little known B pictures like this one. At least writer / director Bill Milling did his part in keeping the Women-In-Prison genre alive with his cheesy effort here. Sweet and sexy Roxanna Michaels plays Kat Collins, a gal who moves to L.A. in the hopes of being an acting star, and manages to get herself "arrested" and sent to a prison where she and various other very attractive ladies are treated as sex slaves and even auctioned off to interested parties. Her concerned older sister Tracy (Elena Sahagun) follows her trail determined to find out what happened. Meanwhile, two detectives, played by Erik "Ponch" Estrada and hulking Richard Barathy, are on the case. Barathy in particular is just a riot, a gruff, tough, brute with a priceless head of hair who the ladies on hand just go crazy for. Whether he's kicking his way through a wall or confronting the massive head guard (Paul L. Smith, 12 years after playing a not dissimilar role in "Midnight Express") or just "acting", the guy is full of entertainment value. But there are enough other familiar faces on hand to help make this thing palatable: James Hong as a detective, Michael Parks as the father of the two girls, Jack Carter as a lecherous sleaze ball, Gregory Scott Cummins as ultra creepy guard Spyder, and even Ron Jeremy as one of the guards. Jeremy isn't the only porn star to be seen, though, as there are others here acting under pseudonyms. The soundtrack, featuring some rocking tunes by a group named Poison Dollys, is enjoyable, and as befitting any movie of this type, we do get an eyeful of our hottie inmates, striking sexy poses and dressed provocatively - when they are dressed; there's enough nudity to keep people happy. The bottom line, though, is that this is all just depraved enough - and silly enough - to make for a good time for interested B movie aficionados. One performer in this who's particularly a hoot to watch is Ty Randolph as the crazed warden, Sybil Thorn (a nod to Sybil Danning and Dyanne Thorne, perhaps?). A noticeable absence of any slickness (the movie does look pretty rough, overall) helps to accent the effective grindhouse appeal. Pretty entertaining overall. Note: Estrada, Smith, Hong, and Parks also all take an associate producer credit. Seven out of 10.

Sweet innocent Kathie Collins (foxy Roxanna Michaels) and her rowdy gal pal Rhonda Wallace (a delightfully raucous April Dawn Dollarhide) are wrongfully incarcerated in a brutal women's penitentiary where the vicious staff led by sadistic lesbian Warden Sybil Thorn (essayed with lip-smacking wicked aplomb by Mindi Miller) grossly mistreat the fetching female inmates. It's up to rough'n'tumble nonstop one man a**kicking martial arts machine Dick Ramsey (beefy wonder Richard Barathy, who sports a truly hideous mullet) to rescue the lovely ladies. Writer/director Bill Milling really pours on the entertainingly outrageous cheese something scrumptious: we've got ineptly staged fight scenes aplenty (including the inevitable wild barroom brawl), slick cinematography by Kenneth H. Wiatrak, a constant snappy pace, a wailin' 80's head-banging rock soundtrack, a pleasingly leering protracted shower scene, vigorously hammy overacting from a game cast, one doozy of a surprise plot twist (the prison is actually a front for a nefarious white slavery ring!), a funky, pumping score by Joe Delia, an exciting last reel jailbreak sequence, and a handy helping of tasty distaff gratuitous nudity (the gorgeous Elena Sahagun in particular looks positively delectable in her birthday suit). Popping up in nifty supporting roles are Erik Estrada as Ramsey's rugged buddy Victor, Michael Parks as Kathie's overbearing dad Mr. Collins, Greg Cummins as slimy guard Spyder, Paul L. Smith as the hulking brute head guard, Jack Carter as smarmy modeling agency big shot Mr. Castaglia, and James Hong as weary Detective Randall Stoner. A total over-the-top ridiculous and hence hugely enjoyable schlocky hoot.

This has got to be one of the funniest films of all time; featuring the most underrated action hero ever to grace the silver screen. For those of you who have yet to watch this masterpiece, Dirk Ramsey is the MAN! He is far superior to Spiderman; his intellect makes Batman look like a dunce, while his strength, even Superman would struggle against the might that is Ramsey. And did I mention that he oozes sex appeal? Throw in sleazy Eric Estrada as his side-kick Victor, and you have all the ingredients for one hell of a viewing. Also, all the 'ladies' on offer apart from Cat and Tracey Collins, are porn stars in real life, you've gotta love this film.