13 Dead Men (2003)
7/10
Prisoners vs Guards in Martial Arts Action
11 March 2013
Warning: Spoilers
This movie takes place in a corrupt prison where the warden is a psycho, the guards are killers and the inmates are used and abused. The plot follows two con men: Caj, a black street thug played by rapper Mystikal and Malachi, played by latino martial arts fighter Ashley Tucker. Caj spends most of his time establishing his dominance by dispensing brutal beatings to the baddest white cons he can find, while Malachi, who won't reveal the location of some stolen diamonds the warden wants, is repeatedly punished by the warden's chief goons -- Torres and the 6'2, 300 lbs muscleman, Crandall.

When the guards can't break Malachi, the warden arranges for Caj to use his talent for dealing out pain to make the latino talk. The crowd of cons goes crazy when Malachi arrives for the fight pumped and shirtless, revealing a powerfully sculpted body, while Caj, likewise stripped for action, flaunts his chiseled black physique. They fight to a draw and, later, become friends when Malachi promises Caj a cut of the diamonds.

Outside the prison are Santos and his crew who also want the diamonds. Santos is played by action star Lorenzo Lamas. Lamas looks great here, trim and muscular and his fight scenes are crisp and authentic. His plan is to break into the prison, free Malachi and recover the diamonds. Stealthily, they infiltrate the prison, taking out the guards one-by-one until the warden discovers them and sounds the alarm. Crandall finds one of Lamas's crew and, after a savage fight, snaps his neck. Finally, Lamas finds Malachi's cell and frees him and Caj. In an awesome fight with the hulking Crandall, Lamas avenges his dead buddy by using a metal chair to bring down the big man, breaking his neck with a satisfying crack. Payback continues when Caj beats Torres to death and the warden meets his end at the hands of Malachi. Though there are some surprises, the fights tie up all the loose ends.

Prison movies are only as good as the guys with the muscle to play the cons and guards. Here Mystikal uses his physicality to dominate the yard; while Tucker lets his body do the talking every time he takes off his shirt. The guards, especially the impressive Crandall, are as badass as the cons. Finally, Lamas proves again why he was always in demand for these action roles.
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