Midnight Express

Probably one of the best classics of all time. See how I refer to 70s films as classics? That’s just how I roll. The story follows Billy Baxter who is arrested at the Turkey border for trying to smuggle Tar across the border. He then is placed in a Turkish jail facility and has several court proceedings to determine his fate. Long story short, he spends a lot of years in this jail town and eventually starts to lose his mind. Will he ever escape and see the light of day? Watch it and you’ll find out. It’s a great ride.

Midnight Express Trailer

Watching Billy’s slow descent into madness is probably the best and most grueling part of this film. I love the scene where he finally gives Rifki what’s coming to him. That is such an extreme and well warranted scene. I forgot that he actually bite out Rifki’s tongue, so that was surprising.

The score throughout the film gave a great presence of utter despair and being captive. The audience feels as if they are facing all of these atrocities along with Billy and the fellow inmates. It’s frightening at times to see what they are put through and the constructed culture they are trying to represent. Justice is definitely not a crucial component to their judicial system.

Best line of the film hands down: “For a nation of pigs, it sure is funny you don’t eat them.” And the film is full of awesome one liners and a really unique world we get to look into. Although, I’m sure it is a little far fetched from time to time, as the Turkish government was extremely offended by the film and ordered written statements from the production house and actors so that people would know that this was not how it was over there. Randy Quad is also fantastic in his role too. He was made to be the loud mouthed, tough guy.

Rating: 9.50/10