5 Must See Prison Movies (that aren’t about escape)

With The Shawshank Redemption (dir. Frank Darabont, 1994) tying with The Godfather (dir. Francis Ford Coppola, 1972) for the spot of best film ever made, it’s no wonder the ‘prison movie’ genre tends to hang on the idea of the Shawshank escape. But there’s more to take place behind bars than a plot to get in front of them. If you’re ever looking for a prison movie without the break from it, here’s five films guaranteed to impress- and most likely shock.

5.  Starred Up (2013)

Jack O’Connell has made quite a name for himself since the hit release of Skins (2007-2013). Playing many a violent role, O’Connell once again hits us hard in his depiction of prison inmate Eric Love. Faced with his equally rage-fuelled father when transferring to an adult prison, writer Jonathon Asser bases the crime drama on his own experiences volunteering at HM Prison Wandsworth. The immersive survival story takes on that fierce, macho electricity within the confines of prison bars and a tight indie budget. The father-son storyline has been used before, but never in this kind of setting. Themes of anger, authority and masculinity are tackled by director David Mackenzie whilst remaining grounded in the harsh reality of prison life. Starred Up is an acclaimed and highly recommended film for anyone tiring of Hollywood tropes.

4.  A Prayer Before Dawn (2017)

   

Prepare for a gritty reality check in this raw, brutal tale that’s filmed in a real Thailandish prison. The true story of Liverpudlian Billy Moore (tremendously played by Joe Cole) being incarcerated into the notorious ‘Bangkok Hilton’ prison is terrifyingly ruthless. Graphics aside, director Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire certainly knows how to create a memorable experience. The vicious atmosphere packs a punch, as Moore defies all odds in becoming the representing boxer of the prison. I would be really interested to know what a viewer who spoke Thai would make of this biopic, as a good portion of the dialogue is foreign to my ears. That said, the inability to understand exactly what is it going on is in some ways the whole point, for we experience the whirlwind of ruthless violence through Moore’s similarly bewildered eyes. Though superficially inhumane in the savagery Sauvaire depicts, Cole brings an honest humanity to A Prayer Before Dawn that strains under the weight of emotional and physical conflict.

3.  Bronson (2008)

The opening to Bronson is enough to keep you gripped for the entire duration of director Nicolas Winding Refn’s one-of-a-kind movie. An eerie silence, sterile spotlight against a black backdrop and Tom Hardy’s menacing face signals this is not your average prison movie. As is the case with many of these films, violence seeps through Bronson’s first-person narrative…turning away any faint-hearted viewer. Intense is an understatement for this biopic of Charles Bronson “the most violent prisoner in Britain.” Flexing his ability to embody character to an admirable extent, Hardy styles an iconic performance. Piercing monologues, strange theatrics and a famous circus-like image all build to create a visual masterpiece, creatively executed by both Hardy and Refn.

2.   The Green Mile (1999)

The Green Mile ranks closely behind Shawshank as one of the greatest movies- let alone prison movies, ever made. Frank Darabont must be proud as the director of both, and manages to embroil elements of fantasy into The Green Mile’s gritty drama to create an unpredictable hybrid genre. I know for sure that I went into this film with some very rigid assumptions. But Darabont surprises us against Hollywood expectations. Made in 1999, the star cast of Tom Hanks, Michael Clark Duncan and Sam Rockwell enact the emotional story of a prison guard who questions the innocence of a murderer on death row. Guards tend to play villainous characters when experiencing a film through the inmate’s eyes. Therefor, the concept of Stephen Kings original story is uniquely entertaining when coupled with the supernatural. If you enjoyed the likes of Shawshank or One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (dir. Milos Forman, 1975), this is guaranteed to win you over.

1.  Hunger (2008)

In stark contrast to A Prayer Before Dawn, Hunger has perhaps one of the most famous dialogue scenes in cinema history. Around twenty-five minutes long, the duration of this simple but powerful conversation takes place almost completely within one still shot. The ability to make a scene like this interesting exemplifies director Steve McQueen pure cinematic talent that weaves throughout the entire movie. Michael Fassbender stars as the true-life Bobby Sands. Hunger striking as a political Irish Republican prisoner, Fassbender (alongside the special effects team) manage to conjure a truly horrifying depiction of a man fighting to the literal death for what he believes in. Many shocking images greet us throughout the viewing of Hunger, but it’s done with a kind of modesty that avoids extravagant effects or even too many background props. But one thing’s for sure, it’s certainly a harrowingly memorable watch.

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Georgia May

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