Brawl in Cell Block 99

Vaughn’s performance is riveting in its containment, and he honors his character’s ethos by making sure that every word, glance, gesture and silence counts.

For one thing, the buildup is so grippingly patient that we’re more than halfway through before the titular battleground is reached. And for another, this painstakingly paced thriller displays an intensity of purpose that makes it impossible to dismiss as well-executed trash.

Brawl then becomes a nightmare in scenes of skull-splattering violence that are truly sickening (and wonderful). Don’t look for a deeper meaning. Just soak up the grindhouse.

It’s not easy, balancing careful character development and a vivid sense of place with the bloodlust of expectations, but Zahler’s done it here.

Brawl in Cell Block 99 rarely drags, even when delivering exposition, and the economy of the storytelling is as efficiently brutal as the eventual skull-crackings.

Brawl in Cell Block 99 unleashes a fascinating gamble, blending the grimy aesthetic of a one-note action movie with undercurrents of blue-collar frustration. It doesn’t quite succeed at fusing those two elements, but it’s further proof of a filmmaking sensibility willing to push beyond the presumed barriers of formula.

Zahler’s film is entertaining, incorrigible and borderline incoherent – it is the violent drunk at the party, liable to lash out.

Loved it. Loved it. Loved it. Will never miss one of S. Craig Zahler work. Great movie.

In short, the film is: it's not believable. I can't believe the main character is this invincible guy or the medieval torture ward inside the jail. The film takes itself too seriously all the time making the story even more difficult to believe. It's only at the end that something makes sense, but the piece still doesn't fit completely. Raw performances, Vince looks like Michael Myers. Highlight for Don Johnson, who even stands out in bad films, it's a shame that this actor didn't get good roles in his career. But at the end of the day, it's worth it for the gore and for Don the rest is hard to swallow without having a beer.

A prison action movie that puts on the screen a lot fights and crazy characters. The style of Zahler here is so evident : dilated times, good editing, raw action. This movie feels like it's overlong and at least 20 minutes could be cut and it is truly irrealistic. The character is an invincible being capable of knocking out. any horde of human beings lashing out at him. A story already seen.

Don't believe the reviews, this is a made-for-TV B-movie. Think Steve Segal.

Mindblowing that this has good ratings on MC. Truly a horrible movie, to the point of being laughable how bad it was. But it was still a passable watch, because of how bad it was.