I do not get such high praise......Spanish thrillers are generally my favorite even if the production values are underwhelming--they still leave well-resourced but corporate-sequel dependent Hollywood in dust. Spanish directors are masters in what I think of as "onion" thrillers. It is a pleasure when they get it right and each peeling of the onion layer sets up a new playing field.a new stage .where the advantages and disadvantages for each character shift. .And one is constantly wondering about the implications and immerses in the ride. see .....for example the superb recent classics come to mind such as "the hidden face" or "the invisible guest".
Unfortunately this movie is very predictable, sub-B grade movie that actually borders on tragedy/comedy (unintentionally of course). A guy on first day of his job as a cop ends up in the jail riot and to save himself has to hide his identity...the rest is about how he builds alliances, creates tension, and desperately fights to survive. I will not reveal the ending but it feels pointless in the end.....what was it all for???? In one unbelievable scene --no one from the prison guard's office or SWAT team's office can tell the pregnant wife to stay at home not get into rioting crowd??/ how is this possible in the age of cell phones???In contrast, the criminals are actually shown as a more real guys--harmlessly rowdy, but with rational demands -In one scene they actually scold the prison administrators and the government officials for being "rough" on rioting crowd--- and --the leader is shown as noble, sensitive, and generous ? His empathy for the "cop turned inmate" during a tragedy is more sincere than the outside colleagues and his bosses. But even so in some key scenes he is inconsistently gullible and even weak. . while the guards and the prison guard's colleagues are either idiots, ruthless, untrustworthy, or just plain incompetent. They even carry "guilt" expression on their faces as if they are the real villains. all the time. Avoid.
Unfortunately this movie is very predictable, sub-B grade movie that actually borders on tragedy/comedy (unintentionally of course). A guy on first day of his job as a cop ends up in the jail riot and to save himself has to hide his identity...the rest is about how he builds alliances, creates tension, and desperately fights to survive. I will not reveal the ending but it feels pointless in the end.....what was it all for???? In one unbelievable scene --no one from the prison guard's office or SWAT team's office can tell the pregnant wife to stay at home not get into rioting crowd??/ how is this possible in the age of cell phones???In contrast, the criminals are actually shown as a more real guys--harmlessly rowdy, but with rational demands -In one scene they actually scold the prison administrators and the government officials for being "rough" on rioting crowd--- and --the leader is shown as noble, sensitive, and generous ? His empathy for the "cop turned inmate" during a tragedy is more sincere than the outside colleagues and his bosses. But even so in some key scenes he is inconsistently gullible and even weak. . while the guards and the prison guard's colleagues are either idiots, ruthless, untrustworthy, or just plain incompetent. They even carry "guilt" expression on their faces as if they are the real villains. all the time. Avoid.