Animal Factory (2000)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Steve Buscemi

Writers (WGA):

Edward Bunker (novel)
Edward Bunker (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

1 August 2000 (Spain)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

On the Inside the Rules Are Brutal And the Stakes Are High

Plot:

A young man goes to prison and a tough, older convict takes him under his wing as a mentor.

Plot Keywords:

Strike | Parole | Gang | Guards | Rape

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Willem Dafoe	...	Earl Copen
Edward Furlong	...	Ron Decker
Danny Trejo	...	Vito
Mark Boone Junior	...	Paul Adams
Seymour Cassel	...	Lt. Seeman
Mickey Rourke	...	Jan the Actress
Tom Arnold	...	Buck Rowan
John Heard	...	James Decker
Chris Bauer	...	Bad Eye
Rockets Redglare	...	Big Rand
Jake La Botz	...	Jesse (as Jake LaBotz)
Mark Engelhardt	...	T.J.
Edward Bunker	...	Buzzard
Victor Pagan	...	Psycho Mike
Ernest Harden Jr.	...	Richland

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language, violence and drug use.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA (cable rating) | Chile:14 | France:U | Germany:16 (video premiere) | Netherlands:16 | Spain:18 | UK:15 | USA:R | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Animal Productions LLC

Trivia:

During the show scene, a vocalist is musically accompanied by a violinist and accordionist - the singer is Antony Hegarty (of Antony and the Johnsons) and the song which he sings a version of is "Rapture" which can be found on the band's self-titled album from 2000.

Goofs:

Continuity: Ron's hair when he first meets Earl.

Quotes:

Earl Copen: Better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven.

Soundtrack:

Demon

Highly Recommended

Although the DVD cover draws attention to another great prison movie (The ShawShank Redemtion), 'Animal Factory' is actually closer in style and content the equally good 'Midnight Express'. Without revealing the plot, Edward Furlong finds himself in deep trouble and is sent to prison for what emerges to be longer than his crime should permit. Here he meets and is befriended by Willem Defoe's character, the prison gang leader of sorts. Furlong, young, alone and vulnerable finds himself taken under the wing of Defoe, which amongst other benefits's, offers him some security against buggery. All the acting is first class, and the direction is snappy enough to keep the viewer entertained until the films climax. Keep a look out for Mickey Rourke's fantastic cameo, had he been given more screen time he would have stolen the show. A must see.