Brawl in Cell Block 99
Brawl in Cell Block 99 is a 2017 American neo-noir action thriller film written and directed by S. Craig Zahler.[1] Starring Vince Vaughn in the lead role as Bradley Thomas, a former boxer and recovering alcoholic who turns to drug running after losing his job as a mechanic, the film follows his arrest and subsequent imprisonment in a maximum-security facility.[1][2] There, Thomas is coerced by a criminal kingpin into assassinating a high-profile inmate in the notorious Cell Block 99 to safeguard his pregnant wife and unborn child, leading to a brutal gauntlet of violence and survival.[1][2] The film features a supporting cast including Jennifer Carpenter as Thomas's wife, Don Johnson as the prison warden, Udo Kier, Marc Blucas, and Mustafa Shakir.[1] Produced by companies such as Assemble Media, Cinestate, and XYZ Films, with producers Jack Heller and Dallas Sonnier, it was shot on 8K high-definition video over five weeks.[1] Cinematography was handled by Benji Bakshi, and editing by Greg D'Auria, resulting in a runtime of 132 minutes.[1] It premiered out of competition at the 74th Venice International Film Festival on September 2, 2017, followed by screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival, before receiving a limited theatrical release in the United States on October 6, 2017, distributed by RLJE Films.[3][1] Upon release, Brawl in Cell Block 99 garnered critical acclaim for its intense violence, deliberate pacing, and Vaughn's dramatic performance, earning a standing ovation at Venice.[1] It holds an 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 99 reviews, with critics praising its grindhouse-style exploitation elements and genre-blending approach.[4] The New York Times named it a Critic's Pick, highlighting its revelatory turn by Vaughn and Zahler's command of tension despite the film's lurid brutality.[2]Overview
Plot
Bradley Thomas, a former boxer and current auto mechanic portrayed by Vince Vaughn, loses his job at the garage where he works.[5] Upon returning home, he discovers that his wife, Lauren, has been unfaithful, leading to a confrontation in which he destroys her car in a fit of rage.[5] Despite the strain, the couple reconciles and decides to have a baby to repair their marriage; determined to provide for his family, Bradley resumes his past role as a drug courier for his employer, a ruthless kingpin.[6][5] Eighteen months later, with Lauren now pregnant, during a delivery, Bradley encounters a buyer abusing a woman and, acting on principle, intervenes by destroying the drug shipment, which sparks a violent shootout with arriving police officers.[7][8] Arrested and convicted, he is sentenced to seven years in a medium-security prison.[9] While incarcerated, a representative from the drug lord—revealed to be Eleazar, angered by the financial loss from the botched deal—visits Bradley and informs him that Lauren and their unborn child have been kidnapped as leverage.[8] To secure their release unharmed, Bradley must orchestrate his transfer to a maximum-security facility and assassinate a specific inmate known only as #99, housed in the notorious Cell Block 99.[10] Driven by fierce loyalty to his family, Bradley accepts the coerced mission.[5] To force a transfer, Bradley unleashes calculated brutality in the prison, using his boxing background to savagely assault fellow inmates and even guards, breaking bones and causing severe injuries in hyper-violent confrontations that escalate his security classification.[5] Relocated to a harsher facility, he continues this path of destruction, fighting through increasingly dangerous cell blocks and enduring torture from corrupt officials, all while receiving updates on his wife's deteriorating condition.[10] Upon reaching Cell Block 99, Bradley locates and executes inmate #99—later revealed to be a fabricated target named Christopher Bridge as part of a larger setup by Eleazar and complicit prison authorities.[10][8] In the film's climax, Bradley storms out of the prison, confronting and eliminating Eleazar's men to rescue Lauren from their hideout, ensuring her and the baby's safety.[10] However, upon returning to the facility, he faces Warden Tuggs, who, having orchestrated parts of the scheme, executes Bradley inside Cell Block 99 for the chaos, deaths, and destruction he wrought throughout the prisons.[10][5]Cast
The principal cast of Brawl in Cell Block 99 is led by Vince Vaughn in a dramatic action role, marking a departure from his comedic background, alongside supporting performers including Jennifer Carpenter, Don Johnson, and Udo Kier.[11] Vaughn prepared extensively for the physical demands of his character by bulking up through targeted training to achieve a muscular, imposing physique suitable for an ex-boxer, while also shaving his head and adopting a Southern accent.[12]- Vince Vaughn as Bradley Thomas: A former boxer and auto mechanic who becomes a drug courier after facing job loss and marital strain.[13][4]
- Jennifer Carpenter as Lauren Thomas: Bradley's wife, dealing with personal challenges in their strained relationship.[13][14]
- Don Johnson as Warden Tuggs: The authoritative warden overseeing operations at Redleaf Prison.[13][14]
- Udo Kier as Placid Man: A composed intermediary representing a criminal organization involved in high-stakes dealings.[13][14]
- Marc Blucas as Gil: Bradley's former associate from the towing business.[13][14]