Animal Factory (DVD 2004)

Sat on the shelf gathering dust since its UK debut at the 2001 London Film Festival, Steve Buscemi's directorial follow-up to the wonderful "Trees Lounge" is a prison movie with a difference.

Based on the hardboiled novel by Edward Bunker - a real life villain turned writer/actor who Buscemi met shooting "Reservoir Dogs" - it stars Edward Furlong as fresh-faced dope dealer Ron, who's banged up for a ten year stretch in a ferocious state penitentiary.

With his youthful good looks, Ron's destined to become somebody's punk. But he's saved from this fate by old-hand Earl (Willem Dafoe), who takes the new kid under his wing.

Attracted to Ron's keen intelligence and wide-eyed innocence, Earl's desire for a platonic relationship means the youngster might just be able to do his time without getting his cherry popped.

Masterfully handled by Buscemi, who prepared by directing an episode of gritty US TV prison drama Oz, "Animal Factory" is a brave successor to the indie charm of "Trees Lounge".

Like Bunker's gripping novel, the film rests on the suspenseful question of whether or not Ron's friendship with Earl is destined to remain platonic, or if the older con (who quite openly tells his young charge he thinks he's attractive) will turn on him.

It's a startlingly original device for a prison movie, and Buscemi's decision not to shrink from dealing with the sexual undercurrents of these caged men's relationships is what makes this worthwhile.

There's little else in "Animal Factory" that's quite so original, but to label it second-hand is unfair, given how many other movies have plundered Bunker's novel for their depictions of life behind bars.

A solid, understated, powerful work: worth doing time for.

I have just read one review saying about an anti climax .. it was a good film and yes there was an anti climax at the end. I expected it to be a bit better than it was .. especially with the sexy Mr Dafoe in it (him in a uniform in Platoon!! what can I say?).
I am interested in prison films and am always on the look out for them. I will watch this one again

WAS VERY HAPPY WITH THE EBAYER SELLER DVD WAS BRAND NEW AND SEALED AND AM VERY HAPPY WITH MY DVD WOULD BE HAPPY TO BUY OFF THIS EBAYER AGAIN

top film very real characters and realistic to its approach of prison life written by eddie bunker (resevoir dogs) it shows with ever increasing violence what life is like in the american penal system willem dafoe and edward furlong play their parts very well and its a good 7/10 movie well worth a look

I am always on the look out for any films to do with prison as I really enjoy them.The price was excellent and the postage costs more than reasonable.I liked the film very much.I bought the film as the price and postage costs were very very good in my opinion.

Film di ambiente carcerario tratto da un racconto di Eddie Bunker. Il film è abbastanza fedele al romanzo. Un notevole limite è tuttavia la comprensione linguistica. Infatti i personaggi parlano in slang o americano stretto. In assenza di sottotitoli è molto difficile capire i dialoghi. Comunque per gli appassionati di Bunker il film merita di essere visto se non altro perchè contiene un cameo dello stessso Bunker.

A great film with a fantastic cast - some might say a return to form for Terminator 2 and American Hsitory X star Edward Furlong. A must have for fans of The Shawshank Redemption - although there is a less fantastical feel in Animal House.

top class film however ends when a lot more could have happed to make the film just that little bit better