The Cannon Film Group was often frowned on by the critics. However, in hindsight, we can plainly see they were responsible for not only such genre classics as Tobe Hooper’s Lifeforce and John Frankenheimer’s 52 Pick-Up but sleazy exploitation gems like this women-in-prison film directed by Paul Nicholas (Chained Heat). Shari Shattuck is a wrongly convicted innocent suddenly at the mercy of a sadistic warden (Angel Tompkins of The Teacher) and her corrupt, sexist guards. Feathered eighties hairdos, cassette walkmans, neon color schemes and Flashdance-inspired prison uniforms are just a few of the pleasures to be found among the expected sex and violence. With John Terlesky, Paul Benedict and Christina Whitaker.
Marc Edward Heuck discusses The Naked Cage on the New Beverly blog.
