A psychologist, a psychiatrist and a prison warden open up a long-closed prison for a bunch of inmates but some ghost is haunting this cell as one of the people running it has a deep dark secret on what happened to someone there when it was in operation back in the days.

A ridiculous horror flick in which at first the camera shots have an empty jail cell for inmates and then later on Warden Edward Dwyer brings on a new group of people to the cell and gets demanding and forceful which doesn't look seriously as it was intended to be. In other words hokey. While watching all of this I had a bad feeling on what to expect in which is a trashy cornball flick.
A counsellor Lisa Titus does some psychology tests with these inmates as I must admit was nicely focused but of course with some of these prisoners responses looked over the top. I just wondered to myself am I seeing a horror flick or a trashy zany comedy.
Later on Lisa drops her files on a staircase with some of the inmates watching her in amusement in which this made me wonder if they will cause her trouble. However, one of the more sane one's whom is Rick Donner helps her. I must admit that this was nicely put into the story showing that he isn't really crazy after all.
When night falls and the inmates are asleep, Edward goes to a certain door which leads to a chair for death sentences as there's some nice cheesy special effects of electricity escaping the room and going everywhere to the people residing there in which I was thinking that this flick will look interesting and the horror is going to kick in. However, the story goes back to the bland comedy which was lame. But I had a feeling the horror would kick in later in which a lightbulb in the cell shows a reflection of a ghost towards Edward haunting him but these moments looked lame brained.
However, the horror does kick in as a security checks out if a fan there is working or not and takes a close look. Some great horror violence is revealed as I must admit this looked fairly well done and was thinking it's about time that something had happened.
In the story Lisa has a somewhat good psychological test with the inmate that helped her out beforehand whom is of course our hero Rick in which their discussions flow well together. It made me wonder as if they will have a romance since it seemed to lead to that. A well done dialogue sequence.
The story still becomes terribly bland but before you know it Edward enters the door and there's some good special haunting effects of someone in the electric chair along with some burned victims as well trying to get to him. The horror is kicking in more I was thinking to myself.
Edward goes into a flasback sequence explaining as to what happened to an inamte there. While watching this outcome, things looked disturbing anf intense. This scene saved the flick from bombing as it was well crafted.
Another moment that saves the flick from bombing is quarter way through the inmates go berzerk and going on a killing spree as this looked well done along with a sad and touching moment on what happened to the Doctor at the ward which was drawn in nicely.
Bottom line is that this flick was a bit of a waste and most of it badly wirtten and lagging. It was very slow while getting to the point of things. It may look exciting at first but is a disappointment later on.

The acting is a bit hokey and over the top especially with James Coco (Dr. Harold Woodhouse Langer) as the head of the asylum in which he seemed to have a ton of energy and acting a bit nuts. He wasn't terrible but needed to tone down his performance as he didn't seem too natural. However near the end of his performance looked impressive and believeably sad.
Trini Alvarado (Lisa Titus) was a natural and probably one of the best in the cast. Shows off a good and calm behavior when doing psychological testing to the inmates in which she really got into this. Also shows good energy and enthusiasm in other spots of the film.
Paul Benedict (Warden Edward Dwyer) was at times stiff within his speaking but in other spots does a good job by acting aggressive or commanding the inmates making him seem a bit unlikeable. Shows a great dramatic performance when he discusses something that happened there which was his best scene. I remember him in the TV sitcom The Jeffersons in which is by far a better show.
Gary McCleery (Rick Donner) was another one whom is one of the best out of the cast as a highly functioning inmate. Acts believeably good hearted and bringing on a good charm onto the screen. Has the right boy next door looks and appeal too. Offers great energy and enthusiasm. A decent character actor.
Stephen Geoffreys (Roach) as usual shows off a hyperactive and insane behavior as another inmate. Springs into action greatly in his supporting role and can be well remembered by behaving like this. Knew on how to act wild and insane quarter way through the flick.
Ron Taylor (Tiny) had a strong presence and probably would be considered the most remembered supporting actor by what he does here. Offers a great lunatic type. Just rolled in with the punches by acting mysterious and strange. He for sure added some enthusiasm into his part.
Calvin Levels (Wilma) was a natural ham by portraying a transvestite inmate. Shows off some great spunk into his part as well as having a tongue in cheek attitude. Plus was great crying when he sees something tragic.

Security guards head is bloodied by a fan as well as a chopped off arm.
Fried looking inmates are revealed during a haunting scene.
Persons leg is stabbed.
Body is blown up in an electric chair but not too bloody looking.

Eddie Reyes does a great job with his composing by offering some great horror sounds along with the comedic sounds too. Offers great wavy synthesizer music which suits the dark moments. Plus the odd screetching sounds and bonging one's too as it was done in fantastic taste. Some piano playing and violin music adds the nice touches here and there.