Review of Midnight Express (1978) by David T — 03 Apr 2008

This is a solid, well made movie about the barbaric treatment of inmates in a tough Turkish prison and is based on the true story of American inmate Billy Hayes who was sent to the prison after trying to smuggle dope back into the US aboard a flight from Istanbul, the film is know for exaggerating the facts some what but this does not deter from what is a well paced, high impact movie.

And some scenes are made purely to put you on the edge of your seat and gasp in horror at the treatment giving to its foreign inmates and centres around corruption, claim and counter claim, the absence of democracy and the harsh reality faced by young men and women who take the risk of bringing drugs out of countries who have at best shaky human rights records through out their history.

A spell bounding piece of film making and a fully enjoyable experience.