"Women in Cages" is a pretty standard Women In Prison flick, with all of the trappings of the genre. It's got lesbianism, wild catfights, nudity, the obligatory shower scenes, and sadism aplenty. Its main drawing card, however, lies in its casting. Instead of playing one of the inmates, the inimitable Pam Grier dominates the proceedings as a brutal head matron.
Otherwise, this is familiar enough stuff. Jennifer Gan plays Carol "Jeff" Jeffries, the fresh fish in a Filipino prison who was set up by her no-good drug smuggling boyfriend. She soon makes friends with cellmates Theresa (Sofia Moran), Sandy (Judith Brown), and "Stoke" (Roberta Collins), a gal with a serious drug problem. After enduring the barbarism of the guards (who maintain a torture room they call the "play pen"), they decide that they won't tolerate any more and formulate plans for escape.
As directed by the prolific Gerry De Leon, this Roger Corman production is appropriately dingy, gritty, and oppressive. That said, it's not without style: some late scenes take place in silhouette and are quite striking. The ladies are mighty fine looking and throw themselves into their roles, although Gans' co-stars tend to out-act her at every turn. Collins, a mainstay in many Corman productions of this time, is particularly good. However, the chance to see the statuesque Pam Grier as a guard is irresistible, and she makes the most out of the situation. Adding to the midnight movie appeal of "Women in Cages" is the atmospheric music supervised by Tito Arevalo.
Among the stand out scenes are those in the "play pen" and those in "the hole", one of those cramped quarters one can often find in films such as this. The climactic prison escape and subsequent chase sequences are fun, and there are some surprises in store for characters and viewers alike. While this can't compare to the best in the genre, it's still certain to keep trash enthusiasts fairly satisfied.
Seven out of 10.
Otherwise, this is familiar enough stuff. Jennifer Gan plays Carol "Jeff" Jeffries, the fresh fish in a Filipino prison who was set up by her no-good drug smuggling boyfriend. She soon makes friends with cellmates Theresa (Sofia Moran), Sandy (Judith Brown), and "Stoke" (Roberta Collins), a gal with a serious drug problem. After enduring the barbarism of the guards (who maintain a torture room they call the "play pen"), they decide that they won't tolerate any more and formulate plans for escape.
As directed by the prolific Gerry De Leon, this Roger Corman production is appropriately dingy, gritty, and oppressive. That said, it's not without style: some late scenes take place in silhouette and are quite striking. The ladies are mighty fine looking and throw themselves into their roles, although Gans' co-stars tend to out-act her at every turn. Collins, a mainstay in many Corman productions of this time, is particularly good. However, the chance to see the statuesque Pam Grier as a guard is irresistible, and she makes the most out of the situation. Adding to the midnight movie appeal of "Women in Cages" is the atmospheric music supervised by Tito Arevalo.
Among the stand out scenes are those in the "play pen" and those in "the hole", one of those cramped quarters one can often find in films such as this. The climactic prison escape and subsequent chase sequences are fun, and there are some surprises in store for characters and viewers alike. While this can't compare to the best in the genre, it's still certain to keep trash enthusiasts fairly satisfied.
Seven out of 10.