WOMEN'S PRISON MASSACRE

(a.k.a. EMANUELLE FUGA DALL'INFERNO; EMANUELLE IN PRISON; BLADE VIOLENT; EMANUELLE ESCAPES FROM HELL)

A misleadingly stylish opening scene sees three females on a stage in a tough women's prison, introducing themselves poetically to their fellow inmates. The three concerned are Irene (Antonella Giacomini, VIOLENCE IN A WOMEN'S PRISON), Laura (the beautiful Maria Romano, THOR THE CONQUEROR) and Emanuelle (Laura Gemser, EMANUELLE IN AMERICA; EROTIC NIGHTS OF THE LIVING DEAD etc).

Their performance is halted by the heckling Albina (Ursula Flores, VIOLENCE IN A WOMEN'S PRISON), who decries the play as "shit" and pelts Emanuelle with tomatoes. A fight ensues, and the guards are quick to step in with nightsticks at hand.

Emanuelle is called to the office of warden Colleen (Lorraine De Selle, CANNIBAL FEROX; HOUSE ON THE EDGE OF THE PARK etc). Colleen warns Emanuelle that she is seen as an influence on the other inmates, and that she must clean up the play - and her act - if she wants to do her time peacefully.

However, we soon learn that Emanuelle is more concerned with ensuring justice prevails - she was working as an undercover reporter and was about to expose a drug smuggling ring involving District Attorney Robinson (Jacques Stany, FOUR FLIES ON GREY VELVET), when Robinson framed her on a drugs charge and got her banged up.

Emanuelle is determined for the truth to come out, but she has the distinct feeling that she'll be lucky if she even gets out of prison alive - understandable, really, when you consider Albina is trying to kill her at every opportunity and the guards have a liking for beating her black and blue.

Things get even worse for our heroine when the warden agrees to house four dangerous male convicts overnight while they await sentencing. Brought into the prison by Lawman Harrison (Carlo De Mejo, CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD; THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY etc), the psycho quartet - led by "Crazy Boy" Henderson (Gabrielle Tinti, THE SEXORCIST; CUT AND RUN etc) - soon overpower the bungling cop.

Proving they are serious by shooting Harrison in the shoulder and slashing a female guard's throat, the convicts demand that they speak to someone important. Moments later, would you credit it, Distric Attorney Robinson turns up to negotiate with the thugs. They demand an escort to the airport and a suitcase with $5 million in it. A tall order, but Robinson promises to try his best.

In the meantime, the convicts just have to sit tight and wait for their demands to be met, while armed police gather outside the prison. As this is an Italian exploitation film, it should surprise no-one that the convicts entertain themselves by brutalising, raping, humiliating, shooting, slashing and cursing virtually every caged woman.

Emanuelle's story takes a back seat for the film's final half as we're invited to sit back, switch off our brains and enjoy Henderson's boys running amuck in a women's prison.

WOMEN'S PRISON MASSACRE is an ugly, badly shot and poorly framed movie. Directed by Bruno Mattei (HELL OF THE LIVING DEAD; SNUFF TRAP etc) under the psuedonym of Gilbert Roussel, it's a stinker in terms of acting and dialogue. The storyline is confused and confusing, while the production values are almost non-existent.

But, against all odds, WOMEN'S PRISON MASSACRE is a wonderfully entertaining film!

It soars along at breakneck speed with not one boring moment to speak of. Mattei whacks the exploitation factor up to the max, throwing gloriously un-PC scenes of lesbianism, rape and beatings in at regular intervals just for the Hell of it. The Goblins-esque score helps tremendously too.

As mentioned, the dialogue is risible - but this in itself provides a wealth of unintentional amusement. As does the overacting by the gang of convicts, who presumably were told to portray psychosis by persistently gurning and grinning wide-eyed.

Technically stupid and incompetent, but curiously watchable trash - perfect for sinking a few beers to.

Retro Shock-O-Rama present the movie in an anamorphic 1.78:1 ratio. The film's been transferred from the uncensored 35mm print, and is pretty rough looking in places. There's lots of specks and grain on screen at times, but when things do settle down the picture is generally pleasing. Colours are bright and vivid, while images are sharp. The print damage, to be fair, is pretty unavoidable.

The English dubbed mono soundtrack is hilarious, adding to the Z-grade trash quality of the film. The audio is fine, aside from one brief scene midway through the film where I noticed considerable crackling.

The extras on offer are a tad disappointing. On the disc itself all we get are four trailers - for WOMEN'S PRISON MASSACRE, SLIME CITY, CRIMINALLY INSANE and SATAN'S BLACK WEDDING.

Elsewhere, we get a decent fold-out booklet with liner notes from 42nd Street Pete.

The film can be accessed via 10 chapters.

Great trash. Just don't forget to get the beers in!

Review by Stu Willis