Brawl in Cell Block 99

Name: Brawl in Cell Block 99
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: October 6, 2017
Duration: 132 min
Rating: 79
Cast: Clark Johnson, Dan Amboyer, Don Johnson, Fred Melamed, Geno Segers

2017

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 21 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 140 Ratings

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7.2

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7.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 140 Ratings

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Brawl In Cell Block 99

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Movie Details & Credits

OctoArts Films | Release Date: October 6, 2017 | Not Rated

Starring: Clark Johnson, Dan Amboyer, Don Johnson, Fred Melamed, Geno Segers, Jennifer Carpenter, Marc Blucas, Mustafa Shakir, Pooja Kumar, Rob Morgan, Tom Guiry, Udo Kier, Vince Vaughn

Summary: A former boxer named Bradley (Vince Vaughn) loses his job as an auto mechanic, and his troubled marriage is about to expire. At this crossroads in his life, he feels that he has no better option than to work for an old buddy as a drug courier. This improves his situation until the terrible day that he finds himself in a gunfight between aA former boxer named Bradley (Vince Vaughn) loses his job as an auto mechanic, and his troubled marriage is about to expire. At this crossroads in his life, he feels that he has no better option than to work for an old buddy as a drug courier. This improves his situation until the terrible day that he finds himself in a gunfight between a group of police officers and his own ruthless allies. When the smoke clears, Bradley is badly hurt and thrown in prison, where his enemies force him to commit acts of violence that turn the place into a savage battleground.… Expand

Director: S. Craig Zahler

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 132 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Justin Chang

Oct 5, 2017

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. Read full review

The Playlist Jessica Kiang

It’s Vaughn’s caged-beast charisma (that bounces off the screen long before he is actually caged) and way with a wink or a pithy putdown that keeps us riveted through the substantial sections of the film where heads remain, for the time being, unstomped. Read full review

Richard Roeper

Oct 13, 2017

In the middle of all the wince-inducing, limb-bending, bone-crunching, face-exploding bloodshed, Vaughn turns in a legitimately great performance that ranks among the finest work he’s ever done. Read full review

Johnny Oleksinski

Oct 4, 2017

Vaughn is so committed and so unrecognizable here, he actually convinces his rapt audience that a murderous rampage through the penitentiary system is a brilliant idea. Read full review

Randall Colburn

Oct 5, 2017

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. Read full review

Robert Abele

Oct 5, 2017

If it’s been a while since you’ve felt the cold blast and hard crunch of midnight-movie meanness, Zahler’s shaping up to be your guy — the one selling illicit thrills out of the trunk of a well-restored, vinyl-topped LTD — and with “Brawl,” he sets himself further apart from his more schlock-minded contemporaries in cult cinem Read full review

The Guardian Xan Brooks

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

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User Reviews

NatoHoro

Dec 23, 2017

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

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

TryASummersault

Nov 30, 2017

Vaughn is a one man wrecking ball full of unstoppable vengeance in this amazingly brutal film full of vigor and no holds barred violence. There's a great story as well in this about going to any lengths to protect who you love no matter what. The shot composition was impeccable and youVaughn is a one man wrecking ball full of unstoppable vengeance in this amazingly brutal film full of vigor and no holds barred violence. There's a great story as well in this about going to any lengths to protect who you love no matter what. The shot composition was impeccable and you really feel like an inmate in these bleak prison environments with immersive detail in every shot. This film flew under the radar much like Bone Tomahawk, but Zahler is quickly becoming a writer/director to watch with some of the most visually striking films of late. Vaughn also deserves a huge amount of credit for showing vast versatility in this role with tremendous physical prowess and great characterization.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

BrianMcCritic

Jan 7, 2018

Brawl in Cell Block 99 is a throwback of action films gone by. Dirty, gritty, down right brutal makes this a captivating bare knuckles thriller. Vince Vaughn is also the best he's ever been. A-

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

JLuis_001

Oct 26, 2017

Brawl in Cell Block 99 is a reinvention for its protagonist, Vince Vaughn not so much for its director, I honestly prefer Bone Tomahawk, but certainly it's necessary to give credit to both of them for trying a film that few will see but without a doubt fans of the genre will enjoy because inBrawl in Cell Block 99 is a reinvention for its protagonist, Vince Vaughn not so much for its director, I honestly prefer Bone Tomahawk, but certainly it's necessary to give credit to both of them for trying a film that few will see but without a doubt fans of the genre will enjoy because in a certain way there is nothing surprising or spectacular in this movie but there is enough quality to justify its existence.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

CoKronakan

Oct 25, 2018

This movie really felt empty from the movie's message perspective , but the action and every other aspects felt it up. Vince really did a great job delivering his brutal, gritty character. But the rest of the performance lacks a little of devotion and creativity. The script and theThis movie really felt empty from the movie's message perspective , but the action and every other aspects felt it up. Vince really did a great job delivering his brutal, gritty character. But the rest of the performance lacks a little of devotion and creativity. The script and the director's style is as average as it gets, or even slightly below average, also the character writing and development was lazy. The sound effects where great, and the music fit in just so right that it made it all grotesque, and fun to watch. But the gory visual where a little off, but every single time a surprise so that was good, although it looked a little rough around the edges and certainly could have been a lot more polished. The plot rather lackluster, but there are fresh welcomed twists and turn of events. The message is simply representing the (I would say:)'HARD' life of simple Americans, who are just but still treated unjust. Overall it's a good movie but there are certain elements that are really missing from giving over the whole picture, and are holding back the movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

xeis

May 1, 2019

So, this is on Netflix now so watched it without realising it was Vince Vaughn, I'm not sure it holds together. It's deliberately slow and clearly VV has been told to be "still", but it didn't really work as he seemed a little out of place. I assume the film was made on a shoestring as theSo, this is on Netflix now so watched it without realising it was Vince Vaughn, I'm not sure it holds together. It's deliberately slow and clearly VV has been told to be "still", but it didn't really work as he seemed a little out of place. I assume the film was made on a shoestring as the set and uniforms of the "guards" seemed very amateurish towards the end. The violence seems slow and stompy and not grounded in reality. The practical effects are good in parts but towards the end look like they were taken from scanners (which will be the takeaway if you are a certain age). There are memorable scenes though and the "horror" elements hold together. I thought the plot seemed consistent and well thought out, the "threat" was unique (really horrifying) and motivating and the characters seemed well developed. I think the lack of budget, poor set / costumes and stompy violence left me feeling there was a lot of potential unrealised here… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ThePinkPanther

Sep 8, 2018

Some movies are so bad they become entertaining, this one, however, fails to do even that. The dialogues are bad and sound forced. The characters are stereotypical to the point it is impossible to identify with any of them. Brad (ok ok Bradley we get it) is some sort of machine void of allSome movies are so bad they become entertaining, this one, however, fails to do even that. The dialogues are bad and sound forced. The characters are stereotypical to the point it is impossible to identify with any of them. Brad (ok ok Bradley we get it) is some sort of machine void of all sentiment who always comes out on top kind of like a Bollywood badass but without the bright colours and the dancing.
Even tho this movie is way too long we didn't get to know most of the characters. The evil Korean abortionist, for example, doesn't serve the plot whatsoever.
Even the violence is unconvincing, partly because of the horrible effects and also because I didn't really care if any of the characters got their arm snapped like a breadstick or not.
All in all, I went against my gut instinct and watched this movie because of the great reviews and boy was I wrong to do so.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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