Prison movies have been around for some time. THE BIG HOUSE
in 1930 is a perfect example of how far back. But most movies glossed over the
ins and outs of prison, focusing on those trying to escape of the camaraderie
found among cell mates. But that isn’t reality. It wasn’t until films made in
the 70s began talking about the cold hard facts of prison life including rape,
drugs and murder.
When ANIMAL FACTORY came out in 2000 it received high praise
from critics as well as those who saw it. But those numbers were small and the
film fell into that void of movies you may have heard of but were completely
forgotten. With this new Arrow Video release the chance to see it in the best
format possible has arrived.
The centerpiece of the story is Ron Decker (Edward Furlong),
a young man arrested for dealing pot and who is to be made an example of.
Sentenced to hard time in one of the worst prisons possible the odds of his
surviving unscathed on his own are slim. Fortunately he’s taken under the wing
of Earl Copen (Willem Dafoe), a long time prisoner who knows how things work
and is willing to protect him.
Rather than what most would expect here, someone offering
protection in exchange for things like sexual favors, Copen becomes a father
figure to Decker. He’s seen what can happen to a young man here and you get the
sense that he wants to atone for past deeds by making sure this man has the
opportunity to get out and live his life the way he should.
The film focuses on how the prison works more than anything.
While overseen by the warden and the guards it is the prisoners who do most of
the work here. We’re not talking making license plates of doing laundry but
things like fill out reports for the guards, typing up parole requests and
more. The guards may oversee them and break them up when a fight begins but for
the most part the prisoners run the books.
With that in mind Copen is able to land Decker various jobs
in the prison that offer him a chance at easy labor. He takes him into the crew
that he’s assembles, one that no one messes with and that can get things
accomplished behind the confinement walls. Problems might erupt, violence might
occur but Copen and his gang avoid that as much as possible.
As Decker’s opportunity for parole gets closer Copen
instructs him on how to stay clear of problems that might prevent that from
happening. When inmate Buck Rowan (Tom Arnold) attempts to rape him, Ron loses
sight of the big picture and sets out to kill him. Unsuccessful in his attempt
it ruins his chance of parole and earns him 5 more years in prison.
Still wishing a better life for the youngster Copen begins
looking for a way to escape. His involvement in the Rowan affair could also
lead to his being moved to another prison where he would have to start all over
again. The time for escape is now and they begin to find a way to make it
happen.
Actor Steve Buscemi has a small role here on screen but a
major one behind the camera as he directed the film. While not the most graphic
and hard hitting of prison films life there is depicted well enough to instill
fear in anyone who thinks they could do easy time. This is a difficult world to
travel in and one not to be taken lightly. It is a violent world where the odds
of a guard being there at the right time to prevent something bad happening are
slim to none.
Dafoe is one of the great actors today. His portrayal of
Copen shows that a performance is as much about subtle nuance as it is about
speaking the written word. You get the impression by his movements and actions
that he has a genuine concern for this young man as opposed to trying to find
someone to be his slave.
The weakest part of the film is Furlong. I’ve never been a
fan and his record shows that his abilities are not up to par with those around
him. He arrived with a splash in TERMINATOR 2 and from there never made
anything worthy of mention or recognition. Here he does little to increase my
admiration for him allowing the rest of the cast to carry the film.
What’s more interesting about the film that you learn from
the extras is that it is based on the book of the same name written by Edward
Bunker, an ex-con and criminal who left behind a life of crime to become a
novelist, screenwriter and actor. Most will remember him as Mr. Blue in Quentin
Tarantino’s RESERVOIR DOGS. He has a small role here as one of the prisoners.
Arrow Video is releasing the film with a great digital
transfer and extras enough to keep your interest. Those include an interview
with Barry Forshaw discussing Eddie Bunker’s varied career, an audio commentary
track with novelist/co-writer/actor Bunker and co-producer/actor Danny Trejo
(who also stars in the film), a theatrical trailer, reversible sleeve with
newly commissioned artwork by Jacob Phillips and for the first pressing only a
collector’s booklet containing new writing on the film by Glenn Kenny. Once
again Arrow Video shows why they’re becoming one of the best companies around
for films like these.
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