Midnight Express is basically a giant advertisement for not smuggling drugs out of Istanbul. It is about how an ordinary, civilized man can be reduced to an animal as a result of a corrupt and merciless prison system, with only his primal urges surviving his cruel and unusual treatment.
It depicts Turkish prison as a place where hope goes to die, where dogs rule and psychopathic rapists run amok. In fact it depicts all of Turkey this way, which could be seen as a little racist but then again, it is probably how the lead played by Brad Davis would have been treated in real life. Foreign prisons do not take kindly to American visitors.
There are a few stand out scenes in the film, particularly the opening when our American lead attempts to smuggle drugs onto the plane, and we hear his heartbeat every step of the way. A clever and unique way to put us directly in the protagonists shoes.
Of course there's the infamous tongue biting and visitation scenes, but its that opening that stays with me the most.
I think Brad Davis give a strong fish out of water performance,
also John Hurt is unrecognizable in the film; allegedly Hurt decided to not bathe for the duration of the filming process, to add to the realism of his character....an interesting fact...but you do wonder, was all that really necessary?, apparently his coworkers who had to smell him didn't think so.
In closing its a very strong and disturbing prison drama that at its core is about retaining your humanity when every force around you attempts to drive it out.
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