If you haven’t already, now is your last chance to stream one of 2017’s top-rated thrillers, “Brawl in Cell Block 99”, as it will be leaving Netflix on January 25th. Directed by S. Craig Zahler, this hard-hitting prison drama chronicles the journey of Bradley Thomas (portrayed by Vince Vaughn), a former boxer who finds himself in perilous prison conditions after a botched drug deal puts his family at risk. Despite its limited theatrical release, the film garnered critical acclaim for its unyielding narrative and Vaughn’s impressive dramatic performance – a stark contrast to his usual comic roles. Furthermore, the film’s intense violence contributed to the buzz that catapulted it into a streaming sensation.
The critical acclaim for the movie “Brawl in Cell Block 99” was largely due to its authentic portrayal of characters and action sequences. Director S. Craig Zahler deliberately chose Vince Vaughn, who stands at 6’5″ and has undiscovered dramatic talent, instead of the more predictable casting options. To prepare for the physically challenging role, Vaughn undertook rigorous training to execute his own fight scenes, without relying on CGI or stunt doubles. This dedication to realism made “Brawl in Cell Block 99” stand out, as it managed to secure a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes across 99 reviews.
Following its debut at the 74th Venice International Film Festival, “Brawl in Cell Block 99” was subsequently featured on numerous esteemed year-end lists of top films, such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and The A.V. Club. Notably, The Museum of Modern Art incorporated the film into their permanent collection, acknowledging its artistic value. Moreover, Vaughn’s acting in the movie led to a Saturn Award nomination for Best Actor.
How a $4 Million Prison Thriller Became a Critical Phenomenon
Filmed within a compact five-week timeframe on Staten Island, “Brawl in Cell Block 99” illustrates how limitations can spark creativity. Collaborating with cinematographer Benji Bakshi, Zahler opted for a unique visual style, selecting a more constricted aspect ratio than his prior film, “Bone Tomahawk“, to emphasize personal character interactions. Additionally, the movie’s color scheme gradually becomes more somber as the narrative plunges into its nightmarish third act, mirroring Bradley’s progression through increasingly treacherous prison tiers.
As stated by Zahler, he found inspiration for his work in traditional prison movies, specifically Don Siegel’s “Riot in Cell Block 11”. However, he aimed to introduce fresh aspects to the genre. Despite having a budget of just $4 million, the film emphasized practical effects and long shots, giving the violence a raw, intense feel that is seldom found in contemporary thrillers these days. Zahler and his crew managed to accomplish this by meticulously planning the action scenes and executing multiple takes, with actors potentially getting hurt if errors occurred during the complex fight choreography.
Brawl in Cell Block 99‘s box office performance may have been underwhelming, earning only $79,000 globally, but this is indicative of the difficulties faced when marketing independent R-rated films that defy traditional genre norms. Despite temporarily becoming harder to find due to its departure from Netflix, it’s expected that Brawl in Cell Block 99 will soon be available on another streaming platform. Given this, it couldn’t hurt to catch up with a genuinely distinctive thriller that showcases Vince Vaughn’s abilities in a manner seldom seen on the silver screen.
Brawl in Cell Block 99 will remain on Netflix until January 25, 2025.
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2025-01-23 13:09