Cell 211 (2009)

Sometimes I wish that non-US movies would get more attention. World cinema produces so many movies that are worth watching but there is a big chance that you won’t hear about them. Luckily my friend Scott at Frontroom Cinema reviewed this movie a while ago. As he has about the same taste in movies I couldn’t wait to see this movie about a prison riot in Spain.

The premise of the movie is simple. Juan Oliver (Alberto Ammann) has found a new job as a prison guard. Excited about working there he decides to go to the prison a day before he starts, just to get to know the place. While his new colleagues show him around he ends up in one of the cells when a prison riot breaks out. When he gets out of the cell he can only do one thing to survive and that is to pretend to be a prisoner. The leader of the riot is Malamadre, a very menacing role by Luis Tosar, who doesn’t trust many people. Will Juan be able to get out of this dangerous situation and how far does he need to go to stay alive?

I absolutely loved this movie. The prisoners are all very scary men who smell fear and are willing to do anything to show they are at the top of the food chain. The chaos of a prison riot only enhances this. Most of the movie is set at the prison and the anarchy of such a situation is convincingly depicted. Anyone can snap at any moment and the negotiations add a lot of tension to the situation. The movie has a lot of drama and will make you care for the characters and what happens to them without ever feeling unrealistic. Well worth watching!

Score: 8