Written by: Michael Den Boer on April 3rd, 2006
Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1983
Director: Bruno Mattei
Writers: Claudio Fragasso, Olivier Lefait
Cast: Laura Gemser , Gabriele Tinti, Franca Stoppi, Lorraine De Selle
DVD released: September 20th, 2005
Approximate running time: 90 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono English
Subtitles: N/A
DVD Release: Retro Shock-O-Rama
Region Coding: Region 1 NTSC
Retail Price: $19.99
Synopsis: Emanuelle (Laura Gemsar) is a reporter who is set up and sent to prison when she gets to close to exposing the corrupt district attorney. Four murders are on their way to the men’s prison when their convoy is ambushed and only one guard is left to watch the four prisoners. There is a Women’s prison near by so the guard takes his four male prisoners to there where they will be kept until re-enforcements can be sent to transport them. It doesn’t take long before the four male prisoners take over the women’s prison and make all the women beg for their attention.
In the history of cinema there have been many bad filmmakers’ and yet none have been as consistently bad for as long as Bruno Mattei. Women’s Prison Massacre has many of the same cast members that were also in Mattei’s Violence in a Women’s Prison and this is where the comparison ends since each film has a unique take on the Women in Prison films genre. The sleaze level is extremely low for Women in Prison film and even the tortures feel fare and few in between. There is plenty of cat fights and violence most of which happens after the four men prisoner take over the prison. The main reason to check this film out is for the beautifully Laura Gemser who also ignites the screen in everything she is in. Unfortunately there isn’t enough Gemsar in this one to save the film from its dull and un-eventful story.
The DVD:
Women’s Prison Massacre is presented in an anamorphic widescreen that preserves the films original 1.78:1 aspect ratio. There is noticeable print damage through out in nicks, tears and scratches. Colors look muted while flesh tones fare better. Black levels look good and details look sharp through out.
This release comes with only one audio option an English language track which is presented in a Dolby Digital mono. There is some noticeable hiss and other minor sound defects, still nothing that ever becomes too distracting. Overall despite some of its shortcomings this audio mix is more then satisfactory.
Extras for this release include liner notes about the film written by: 42nd Street Pete. Rounding out the extras for this release are three trailers one for Women’s Prison Massacre and trailers for Slime City and Satan’s Black Wedding/Criminally Insane. Retro Shock-O-Rama re-releases Women’s Prison Massacre this time totally uncut and fans of Laura Gemsar will definitely want to add this title to their collection.