Prison (1988)

35% of users liked it
(657 ratings)

Prison guard Ethan Sharpe (Lane Smith) watched as Burke (Viggo Mortensen) dies in the electric chair in 1964. Over two decades later, Sharpe is the warden, and Burke returns from the dead to exact revenge on the wicked warden when the prison re-opens. Two victims drip blood while dangling in barbed… More Prison guard Ethan Sharpe (Lane Smith) watched as Burke (Viggo Mortensen) dies in the electric chair in 1964. Over two decades later, Sharpe is the warden, and Burke returns from the dead to exact revenge on the wicked warden when the prison re-opens. Two victims drip blood while dangling in barbed wire in a macabre dance of death, and the guards and inmates suffer at the hands of the malevolent Burke as he seeks his supernatural vengeance. The film location was the Wyoming State Prison. Built at the turn of the century, the jail became a tourist attraction in 1981. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 42 min.
Directed By: Renny Harlin
Genres: Drama, Horror

In Theaters: Mar 4, 1988 Wide
Studio: New World Video

Critic Reviews

Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness
A horror film in which staging gruesome deaths becomes a lame substitute for creating tension and eeriness.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Has its limited prison-grime charms, but nothing for the horror freaks to write home about.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cory T

Harlin's first theatrical effort quickly establishes his garish stylistics choices such as a POV tracking shot to the electrical chair. It also adheres to his sound-and-fury-signifying-nothing sensibilities wherein the inmates are besieged by a barrage of loud pyrotechnics… More
Harlin's first theatrical effort quickly establishes his garish stylistics choices such as a POV tracking shot to the electrical chair. It also adheres to his sound-and-fury-signifying-nothing sensibilities wherein the inmates are besieged by a barrage of loud pyrotechnics without a plausible reason since the ghost's only objective is murdering the newly appointed warden. It's all swiftly paced and tautly photographed, but the midsection is a sluggish going-through-the-motions initiation into penitentiary life such as rivalries, riots and sage advice about having "the face of a lifer". But like the 'Final Destination' movies, it's arduous to be frightened by an incorporeal Grim Reaper firing a gun turret and wrapping razor wires around a sadistic guard. 'Prison' retains Harlin's whizz-bang shepherding, but it's a vapid, spineless revenge story with corridors that imitatively resemble Freddy Krueger's boiler room.
Matthew A

At first I doubted that I'll enjoy this movie very much, but as it went on the movie kept on getting better and better. It's about an evil spirit trapped in a prison after his execution that wanted revenge. I loved the elements of horror in this and the deaths very quite… More
At first I doubted that I'll enjoy this movie very much, but as it went on the movie kept on getting better and better. It's about an evil spirit trapped in a prison after his execution that wanted revenge. I loved the elements of horror in this and the deaths very quite constructive too. Barbed wire one was my favourite. Overall a pretty intense horror flick with a variety of characters and lots of deaths. Though I was quite confused about the connection between Viggo Mortensen's character to the evil spirit.

Cast

            Lane Smith as Ethan Sharpe

            Viggo Mortensen as Burke/Forsythe Electrocution

            Chelsea Field as Katherine Walker

            André De Shields as Sandor

            Lincoln Kilpatrick as Cresus

            Ivan Kane as Lasagna

            Steven E. Little as Rhino

            Stephen E. Little as Rhino

            Mickey Yablans as Brian Young

            Tommy 'Tiny' Lister as Tiny

            Tom Everett as Rabbitt

            Larry Flash Jenkins as Hershey

            Hal Landon Jr. as Wallace

            Arlen Dean Snyder as Horton

            George D. Wallace as Joe Reese

            Kane Hodder as Charlie Forsythe/Gas-Mask Guard

            John Hoke as Old Warden

            Larry Moore as Reptile Guard

            Rob Brox as Pervis

            Luciana Capozzoli as Claxton

            Jeff L. Deist as Gate Guard

            Matt Kanen as Johnson

            Lyle D. Kelsey as Guard

            Rod Lockman as Kramer

            Pat Noonan as Collins

            Duke Spencer as Scully
See full cast

Prison (1988)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Cory T

Matthew A

Cast

Trailers & Clips