Year: 1988
Runtime: 102 min
Language: English
Director: Renny Harlin
Budget: $4M
After being wrongly executed, an inmate mysteriously returns from the dead seeking vengeance against the corrupt warden responsible for his demise twenty-five years earlier. The film is a tense thriller exploring themes of justice, morality, and the complex relationship between life and death, as the vengeful prisoner confronts the warden and his dark secrets.
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In Wyoming, the atmosphere at Creedmore Penitentiary shifts from cold routine to something far more ominous when a dark past resurfaces. Eaton Sharpe, [Lane Smith], a corrupt prison guard turned warden, oversees Creedmore as it reopens to house roughly 300 inmates from other facilities. The reopening comes with a tight, punishing regime that mirrors Sharpe’s harsh beliefs about discipline, leaving both staff and inmates on edge. On the outside, Katherine Walker, [Chelsea Field], a reform-minded member of the Department Of Corrections, speaks out against Sharpe’s appointment not only because of his old-fashioned methods but also because she senses he’s hiding more than he reveals. Her concerns resonate with Cresus, [Lincoln Kilpatrick], a wary inmate who has memories of Creedmore from years past and whose reasons for mistrust align with the ghosts of the prison’s history.
Across the newly arrived population, fear and survival instinct reign. Among the newcomers, Burke, [Viggo Mortensen], a professional car thief, and Joe “Lasagna” Lazano, [Ivan Kane], a proud Italian-American, adjust to the brutal realities of life behind Creedmore’s walls. A hulking figure known simply as Tiny, [Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister], also arrives, his presence casting a long shadow over the cell blocks. These men, along with others, grapple with the stern, unforgiving discipline that Sharpe enforces, even as the old walls seem to creak with memories of a different era.
A fateful order from Sharpe sets off a chain of supernatural consequences. He sends Burke and another inmate to the basement to break down the wall leading to the execution chamber, unwittingly releasing the vengeful spirit of Charles Forsyth, the innocent man who was executed in 1964 for a murder he did not commit. From that moment, a string of grisly deaths erupts, spreading fear through both inmates and staff. The warden, in denial, blames the rising carnage on troublesome inmates, yet his own guilty conscience fuels a growing pattern of sadistic and erratic behavior.
As terror spreads, Burke, [Viggo Mortensen], along with his fellow prisoners, realizes they are all targets unless the ghostly debt of Forsyth can be settled. The spectral vengeance presses the living to confront the hidden injustices of Creedmore’s past and the consequences of a system that allowed an innocent man to pay the ultimate price. The grip of Forsyth’s anger tightens, and the living must decide whether to restore a long-ignored balance or face a reckoning that could claim them all.
Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:58
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Wronged spirits return to exact vengeance within oppressive institutional walls.If you liked the vengeful ghost and oppressive setting of Prison, you'll find similar thrills here. This list features movies where supernatural forces deliver justice within the claustrophobic confines of prisons, asylums, and other institutions, creating a tense mix of horror and revenge.
The narrative typically begins with a historical wrong committed within an institution. Years later, the reopening or continued use of the location unleashes a vengeful supernatural presence. The story unfolds as a series of confrontations, where the ghost systematically targets those responsible, forcing a reckoning with past sins.
These movies are grouped by their shared core premise: a confined setting becomes a stage for supernatural retribution. They blend horror and thriller elements with themes of institutional corruption and delayed justice, resulting in a consistently tense and grim viewing experience.
Stories where the true monster is the cruelty of the system itself.Fans of Prison's themes of wrongful execution and systemic cruelty will appreciate these movies. Discover similar stories where the horror is rooted in institutional corruption, featuring bleak settings, heavy themes, and confrontations between the oppressed and their powerful, morally bankrupt oppressors.
These stories often follow a protagonist, either an inmate, patient, or employee, who uncovers the deep-seated corruption of the institution that confines them. The conflict is a battle against an almost monolithic evil system, where survival or achieving justice comes at a great personal cost, often leaving the core problem only partially solved.
They share a focus on the horror of institutional power and the moral ambiguity of fighting it. The tone is consistently dark and intense, with a heavy emotional weight derived from themes of injustice, cruelty, and the complex nature of retribution within a broken system.
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Track the full timeline of Prison with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
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