Ghosts... of the Civil Dead (1988)

Prison gangs clash in a high-tech security jail where there are no rules.

Director:

John Hillcoat

Writers:

Nick Cave, Gene Conkie,

Stars:

David Field, Mike Bishop, Chris DeRose

2 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Field	...	Wenzil
Mike Bishop	...	David Yale
Chris DeRose	...	Grezner
Kevin Mackey	...	Glover
Dave Mason	...	Lilly
Nick Cave	...	Maynard
Bogdan Koca	...	Waychek
Freddo Dierck	...	Robbins
Vincent Gil	...	Ruben
M.E. Duncan	...	Junkie 1
Nick Seferi	...	Junkie 2
Tony Clark	...	Simone
Yilmaz Tuhan	...	Food King
Ian Mortimer	...	Jack
Mick King	...	Edwin Neal

Storyline

The inmates and guards of a modern, clean and efficient maximum security wing are slowly and increasingly brutalised until they erupt in violence. Dark and macabre, and based in truth, the story is told in a traditional dramatic style combined with telephone interviews and narration.

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Plot Keywords:

violence | maximum security | prison | strip search | blood | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 June 1989 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Ghosts... of the Civil Dead - avoimien ovien päivä helvetissä

Filming Locations:

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Correctional Services, Outlaw Values

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Maynard: Officer, come here. I wanna spit in your fucking eye!

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Connections

Features Forced Entry (1973)

User Reviews

One of the most graphically unsettling movies I've ever seen

Manages to instill in the viewer a true sense of claustrophobia and unease. The violent scenes are some of the most graphic i've ever seen and especially the scene with the guard in the cage gives me the shivers of impending dread whenever i watch it. Also the use of tattoo as punishment is another horrible thought. Cave is brilliantly unhinged in his role and the scenes of him drawing on the walls in his own blood will be oddly believable to anyone who ever saw some of the more ferocious birthday party gigs of the early 80s.

A truly original movie that is only half the film that Cave's script was meant to portray........

The soundtrack (by Cave etc) is also brilliantly effective Can we have a DVD release please?