CELL K-11 is an odd little prison movie with grindhouse sensibilities. This one steps away from offering a realistic approach to instead go all-out with over-the-top characters and outlandish situations. The main character, as played by former E.R. actor Goran Visnjic, is the usual innocent guy who wakes up one day and finds himself thrown into the homosexual wing of a Los Angeles jail.
This film seems more occupied with detailing transsexual culture more than anything else. The cast features a bunch of actresses playing transsexual or transvestite characters and many of them are believable in their parts, particularly Kate del Castillo, who steals the show as the completely convincing Mousey, the woman who runs the wing. Others like Portia Doubleday (MR. ROBOT) fare less well but still deliver kooky performances.
The main problem with this film is the story, or rather lack of it. It seems to slide along aimlessly, giving a good example of prison life but failing to involve the viewer in any way. Take Visnjic's plight, which is predictable and extremely uninteresting. The supporting players are more interesting than the lead, including D.B. Sweeney's slimy prison officer, Tommy 'Tiny' Lister as the resident rapist, and Jason Mewes as, unsurprisingly, a drug dealer. The usual sex and violence fills the screen, giving this a hard grindhouse edge.
This film seems more occupied with detailing transsexual culture more than anything else. The cast features a bunch of actresses playing transsexual or transvestite characters and many of them are believable in their parts, particularly Kate del Castillo, who steals the show as the completely convincing Mousey, the woman who runs the wing. Others like Portia Doubleday (MR. ROBOT) fare less well but still deliver kooky performances.
The main problem with this film is the story, or rather lack of it. It seems to slide along aimlessly, giving a good example of prison life but failing to involve the viewer in any way. Take Visnjic's plight, which is predictable and extremely uninteresting. The supporting players are more interesting than the lead, including D.B. Sweeney's slimy prison officer, Tommy 'Tiny' Lister as the resident rapist, and Jason Mewes as, unsurprisingly, a drug dealer. The usual sex and violence fills the screen, giving this a hard grindhouse edge.