Cell 211 main backdrop
Cell 211 main poster

7.4/10 • 1.2K

2009-11-061h 50m

ActionThrillerDrama

To survive inside, he has to become one of them.

The story of two men on different sides of a prison riot -- the inmate leading the rebellion and the young guard trapped in the revolt, who poses as a prisoner in a desperate attempt to survive the ordeal.

Directors
Daniel Monzón
Editors
Mapa Pastor

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Luis Tosar

    Luis Tosar

    Malamadre

  2. Alberto Ammann

    Alberto Ammann

    Juan Oliver

  3. Antonio Resines

    Antonio Resines

    José Utrilla

  4. Carlos Bardem

    Carlos Bardem

    Apache

  5. Félix Cubero

    Félix Cubero

    Germán

  6. Marta Etura

    Marta Etura

    Elena

  7. Luis Zahera

    Luis Zahera

    Releches

  8. Vicente Romero Sánchez

    Vicente Romero Sánchez

    Tachuela

  9. Patxi Bisquert

    Patxi Bisquert

    Jon Arteaga

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Mar 14, 2024

7/10

Now there are a few rather daft plot holes here, but in the main this is a really strong prison drama anchored well by Luis Tosar and Alberto Ammann. The latter man ("Juan") is on an orientation visit to a high security prison were he is shortly to begin work when a full scale riot breaks out. That is being led by "Malamadre" (Tosar) and it's only by luck - he had had an earlier accident and was recovering in cell 211 - that he isn't taken hostage like two of his soon-to-be colleagues. He's quite a quick thinker and thanks to him being slightly bloodstained, manages to convince their new boss that he's just another new inmate. Make no mistake, though - he is treading a very fine line as not everyone believes him, and as the negotiations begin in earnest he knows it is going to prove increasingly more difficult to help diffuse this scenario and stay in one piece. Meantime, the authorities are making quite an hash of things on the outside - and that rather shambolic operation leads to a tragedy that causes "Juan" to completely rethink his loyalties! What's actually more effective here is the dialogue and quite intense style of photography. Violent and angry it is, yes - but these prisoners are victims too. Their protests against a brutal regime of solitary confinement have long since fallen on deaf ears, so this action is quite literally their last resort - just ask the previous occupant of cell 211! Tosar is impressive as the slightly more sophisticated thug and as the two men work together, a bond - of sorts - begins that might ultimately be the only thing that keeps any of them breathing.

Media

  • Cell 211 poster
  • Cell 211 poster
  • Cell 211 poster
  • Cell 211 poster
  • Cell 211 poster
  • Cell 211 poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
Spanish
Budget
$5,700,000.00
Revenue
$19,300,483.00
Keywords
suicidehusband wife relationshipbased on novel or bookpregnancyprison cellpenitentiaryprison guardflashbackjaileta terrorist groupwalkie talkieprison riotsurveillance camerawrist slittinggaggedviolence