'Felon' had a limited theater release and went to DVD. Regular guy (Stephen Dorf) kills a burglar with a baseball bat and goes to prison. Has to fight in racial gladiator contests staged by evil guards (led by black actor Harold Perrineau of 'Oz').
Writer and director Ric Roman Waugh spent two years doing research. He says gangsters are learning MMA and teaching other gangsters (he uses the term gangster, which suggests this is a way of life for these criminals and prison isn't just a time out from regular life). The actors were trained in MMA in preparation for the movie's fight scenes. Waugh's background is as a stunt man and the fights are convincing even though they weren't choreographed. Very fast and chaotic.
So it could be said MMA is endorsed by experts in the field.
The movie itself is a PSA arguing prisons should be reformed. The warden even says he wishes he could segregate the yard again, but the state won't let him.
Val Kilmer plays the 'veterano' who explains prison politics to Dorf. 'The most important thing for woods like you and me is - If it ain't white, it ain't right. Mexicans are split down the middle between north and south and are always at war with each other. The blacks mostly put aside gang affiliations and are with the Samoans and Asians. Don't try to figure out all the black gang alignments, trust me, they all hate you.' In reference to the white gangs, 'Are you sure they don't want you to do something more than run in the yard and yell n****r?'
Filmed at the New Mexico State Penitentiary in Santa Fe, scene of the 1980 riot where at least 33 died (many bodies were unrecognizable so the actual number is unknown). It's clear this low budget movie was a work of conviction (unintentional pun) for the major stars in it. Too bad it didn't get much media attention. The non-PC elements may be what did the damage. Edited by: Charlie
Writer and director Ric Roman Waugh spent two years doing research. He says gangsters are learning MMA and teaching other gangsters (he uses the term gangster, which suggests this is a way of life for these criminals and prison isn't just a time out from regular life). The actors were trained in MMA in preparation for the movie's fight scenes. Waugh's background is as a stunt man and the fights are convincing even though they weren't choreographed. Very fast and chaotic.
So it could be said MMA is endorsed by experts in the field.
The movie itself is a PSA arguing prisons should be reformed. The warden even says he wishes he could segregate the yard again, but the state won't let him.
Val Kilmer plays the 'veterano' who explains prison politics to Dorf. 'The most important thing for woods like you and me is - If it ain't white, it ain't right. Mexicans are split down the middle between north and south and are always at war with each other. The blacks mostly put aside gang affiliations and are with the Samoans and Asians. Don't try to figure out all the black gang alignments, trust me, they all hate you.' In reference to the white gangs, 'Are you sure they don't want you to do something more than run in the yard and yell n****r?'
Filmed at the New Mexico State Penitentiary in Santa Fe, scene of the 1980 riot where at least 33 died (many bodies were unrecognizable so the actual number is unknown). It's clear this low budget movie was a work of conviction (unintentional pun) for the major stars in it. Too bad it didn't get much media attention. The non-PC elements may be what did the damage. Edited by: Charlie