Cell Block X

Cell Block X is a 1998 Canadish horror-theme action film directed by Bob Flint in his theatrical debut and written by Flint with Craig Clarkson. The film is set in the eponymous Cell Block X, located in the fictional Tillicoultry High-Security Prison, where experiments are performed on the prisoners there, and torture is brought to those who do not comply. The film follows the life of undercover reporter Brian Hipkins - played by Alan Parker - who has been hired by the Canadish government to investigate the occurrences after a released prisoner breaks the news to the government.
The film premiered at the Jumanji Film Festival on October 1, 1998, and was theatrically released by Alexander Richmond Pictures on October 22 the same year in Canadia, on November 6, 1998 in Jonathia, and finally the rest of the world on the following day, November 7. Cell Block X was a critical and commercial success, grossing more than $126 million in 17 days and surpassing the 1974 film The Killer Man as the top-grossing horror film in Canadia until The Line in 2020. A sequel, Cell Block Z, was released in 2002.
== Plot ==
The Canadish government receives a letter from a former prisoner at Tillicoutry High-Security Prison, claiming torture had been committed on them. Concerned, the Canadish government sends down a junior reporter, Brian Hipkins, as an undercover cop to investigate. Arriving at the prison, Hipkins is stationed by prison chief Zack Skullbrain, who orders him stationed at Cell Block X. There, he witnesses two officers inject liquid into a helpless prisoner, who later breaks into a spasm and coughs up blood. Hipkins is ordered by one of the guards, Horace "Heavy" Todesbringer, to shoot the prisoner. Hipkins initially refuses, but when Heavy offers to shoot him instead, Hipkins is forced to comply. All this is captured using Hipkins' glasses, which have been fitted with a secret camera.
At dinner that night, Hipkins asks to use the toilet, but when he is out of sight, he immediately rushes for the telephone. He phones Coby Baker, the councilor who had hired Hipkins prior. Baker says to film more footage, as one film won't be enough. Hipkins returns to the dining room, where Skullbrain questions what took him so long, before leaving after being told of a commotion at the cells in Cell Block X. Hipkins follows a crowd of officers and finds that several prisoners have attempted to bust a hole into a cell wall. Skullbrain orders the officers to arrest the prisoners. The prisoners are taken away to a torture room, where they meet individual fates of torture. Hipkins panics and runs away, but Heavy spots him, and pins him to the wall. Heavy warns Hipkins that if he informs the government about this, he will "literally lose his mind".
The next day, Hipkins witnesses two officers beat down a helpless prisoner and gulps. He retreats once more to the phone booth; this time Baker confirms that he saw everything occur - the glasses were connected via a satellite system to a series of monitors in the Department of Justice building - and that he'd talk to his higher-ups to see what he could do. Hipkins later comforts a young prisoner, Diana Davies, who is scared that she may be next on the culling list. Diana reveals in conversation that she had been wrongly imprisoned for killing her older brother - whom Diana says had actually committed suicide. Hipkins promises Diana that "all of this will be over soon". Hipkins is nearly spotted by Heavy, but manages to retreat under the bed.
That night, Hipkins sneaks out to Diana's cell, and reveals himself to be undercover. Diana and Hipkins decide to incite a prisoner riot. Diana uses her cellmate's connections with a gang in next-door Cell Block W, and the pair, joined by Diana's cellmate, Agnes Freeman, plan the riot. Morning rises once more, and Skullbrain warns the prisoners that the punishment for refusing to participate in experiments will result in execution. Suddenly, officer Chris Louterslaaf rushes in, reporting that prisoners from several cell blocks had been attempting to break in. The situation is made worse when Heavy warns that government officers are demanding entry into the prison, having heard about the recent happenings.
Total violence breaks out. Hipkins narrowly avoids the prisoners spilling in, as the officers open fire on dozens of helpless prisoners. Hipkins manages to lead Diana and Agnes out, but is spotted by Skullbrain, who lodges a gun to his head. Before he gets a chance to fire, Baker arrives with several officers, revealing to the officers that their cover had been blown by Hipkins. Skullbrain once again raises his pistol to Hipkins' head, but is tackled to the ground by Baker. Baker shoots Skullbrain in the chest, but as he leaves, Skullbrain lands a gunshot in Baker's leg. Hipkins is forced to carry Baker out on his back. Both Heavy and Louterslaaf witness this, and Louterslaaf chooses to bail. Heavy refuses to join Louterslaaf, saying that "an officer must serve to the bitter end", as he is surrounded and likely killed by a swarm of prisoners.
The movie's final scene shows a CBC news broadcast reporting on the incident at Cell Block X. A commotion of citizens cheer as a bomb detonates the wall of the cell block, allowing hundreds of prisoners, who are later interred by government officers, free of the building. Baker, being loaded into an ambulance promises to decommission the entire prison. Diana waves Agnes goodbye as she is carried off by a police car for further questioning regarding the events in Cell Block X. Hipkins drives away in another police car with Diana in tow, and the movie ends.
== Cast ==
Some names of characters in the movie translate into other languages to reveal hidden messages as to their roles in the prison.
* Alan Parker as Brian Hipkins
* Judith Capeson as Diana Davies
* Barnaby Mitchell as Zack Skullbrain
* Taylor Cole as Horace "Heavy" Todesbringer - Heavy's last name translates from German into "death bringer".
* Boris Ramson as Chris Louterslaaf - Chris' last name translates from Gallitonian into "pure slave".
* Hendrix Cooper as Coby Baker
* Lilly Matthews as Agnes Freeman
Category:Cell Block X
Category:Films
Category:Movies
Category:Canadia
Category:1998