I not normally one to rip on a movie........

--No, you probably weren't the only one that "chuckled". Still , the fact you could react in such a way DOES make you a "chucklehead"

--That's the way they must have done line-ups before Dick Wolf created the "Law & Order" franchise

--It wasn't a prison, and the unit, as a whole, was self-contained. See "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" as a forerunner of the concept

--The warden and staff knew, by telling Mick, that there was a possibility he'd split

--The girl loved him, and if you watched the interaction between the father and the reformatory staff that went to get Mick (Reni Santoni's character whispering, "Just a minute"), and saw the car across the street, it's pretty obvious they knew he was acoming, and they probably "asked" the father to let Mick in to see J.C. and they would handle it from there

--How long did Viking have the knife? Nothing reveals up to that point

--Barn Boss was obviously a "tradition" in that place

--Yes, Horowitz was a total bad-ass, in his own inimitable style

Two MAJOR things you haven't considered: this took place in the early 1980's and this was a Reform School, not a prison.

Much has changed because of court appeals to vary the witness viewing during a line up.

And the population back then was not such an issue. Now overcrowding has caused all 'reform schools' to become like prisons.

Too bad this film has shown it's age. the acting was great. The dialog seemed real and the plot moved along. I really liked it, even after seeing it when it first came out. It stands up.

i noticed the van blew up b4 it was even hit.

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Yes, this movie is one of those so-bad-it's-good kind of movies......but just barely. Every cliche from every prison movie ever made makes an appearance in this turkey. My favorite is the guy mopping the floor. Just about every scene has a guy mopping in the background. And the "Barn Boss" making the work assignments....yeah, state juvenile correction facility delegates to a teenager. Just sooo many roll your eyes moments.

This will be the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here.

-What about during the line up, when the police make the rape victim accuse her rapist while he is six feet away?
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As much as I love this film, there are many flaws that prevent it from being better. The main one is the detainees would not be roaming around free after lights out and the cells would be locked. As for your point about the line up, yes, that doesn't appear proper procedure. JC was also told that if she didn't press charges that Paco could walk. Bulls<>t! Armed security were there and shot Paco's accomplice and Paco was there too. The police would have pressed the charges. This line-up scene was edited out, along with some others for the theatrical and original VHS release.

Exorcist: Christ's power compels you. Cast out, unclean spirit.
Destinata:💩

The OP can barely type English I don`t blame him for confusing this 80`s American prison movie