A handful of convicts plot to escape from a prison ship where they are treated like pieces of meat by the sadistic staff. Director Fred Olen Ray keeps the enjoyably silly story zipping along at a snappy pace, maintains an amiable tongue-in-cheek tone throughout, and adds amusing touches of deliberately campy humor. However, Ray doesn't deliver much in the way of gratuitous female nudity and keeps the sleazier aspects of the premise to a minimum.
Fortunately, we still get nasty mutant rats, a few lively cat fights, and a welcome appearance by the big toothy monster from "The Deadly Spawn." Moreover, it's acted with zest by an enthusiastic cast: Sandy Brooke and Suzy Stokey make for feisty and appealing heroines, Ross Hagen has an eye-rolling histrionic field day as the evil and unhinged Bantor, Marya Grant vamps it up nicely as the wicked Warden Exene, and Dawn Wildsmith contributes a deliciously hammy turn as mean head trustee Muffin. Aldo Ray alas isn't given much to do as a grotesquely disfigured inquisitor while John Carradine pops up in a quick bit as a doddery judge. The funky old school practical effects and copious use of stock footage from several Roger Corman flicks add a certain endearingly tacky charm. The spirited score by Anthony Harris hits the stirring spot. A schlocky blast.
Fortunately, we still get nasty mutant rats, a few lively cat fights, and a welcome appearance by the big toothy monster from "The Deadly Spawn." Moreover, it's acted with zest by an enthusiastic cast: Sandy Brooke and Suzy Stokey make for feisty and appealing heroines, Ross Hagen has an eye-rolling histrionic field day as the evil and unhinged Bantor, Marya Grant vamps it up nicely as the wicked Warden Exene, and Dawn Wildsmith contributes a deliciously hammy turn as mean head trustee Muffin. Aldo Ray alas isn't given much to do as a grotesquely disfigured inquisitor while John Carradine pops up in a quick bit as a doddery judge. The funky old school practical effects and copious use of stock footage from several Roger Corman flicks add a certain endearingly tacky charm. The spirited score by Anthony Harris hits the stirring spot. A schlocky blast.