This is a Bruno Mattei take on the women-in-prison genre. The director of the infamous ZOMBIE CREEPING FLESH, Mattei is much derided by fans of Italian trash because of his inability to direct a decent movie. This is pretty poor stuff, but actually better than some I've seen, so any film that shows Mattei in a good light has to have something going for it. As well as being a stand alone WIP/exploitation movie in itself, Mattei ties this into the BLACK EMANUELLE saga by casting Laura Gemser and her real-life lover Gabriele Tinti as the flick's two main stars.For the most part, this is business as usual, and it's notable that the stars are more attractive than you'll find in a film like this. Gemser is sent to a hellhole of a prison, but wait, there's a twist: she's actually working undercover for Amnesty International to look at prison standards. The usual elements are here, rather undistinguished: there's a sympathetic prison doctor; rape scenes; a sadistic warden; butch inmates; plenty of lesbianism; and an inevitable jail break come the climax. Mattei is no stranger to sleaze and the nude shenanigans are what you'd expect from this particular genre. Gemser is great value for money, as is Gabriele Tinti, but there's nothing or no one else here who stands out from the crowd. Cat fights, torture, nudity, sex and violence (although not as much of the latter as you'd expect from the title) and there you have it.

This is the second women in prison style Emanuelle film made by Bruno Mattei - and is not to be confused with Emanuelle Escapes From Hell which was made a year later. This one goes by the title Emanuelle Reports from a Women's Prison, among others; the best of which being Chicks in Chains. The plot is basically similar to the other Bruno Mattei Emanuelle women in prison flick, and this one sees the enthusiastic journalist in prison...to research how inmates are being treated by the guards. I would call this film the better of the pair; although only just and really it's about on the same level as the other women in prison garbage that was made en masse in the seventies and eighties. The fact that the beautiful Laura Gemser takes the lead role does make the film more interesting, however, and as always the popular actress lights up the screen every time she's on it. The film is decked out by all the usual sleaze as you would expect and the quality of filming is actually quite good; especially when you consider who is the in the director's chair. An extended lesbian sex scene towards the start is one of the film's main standouts. The film features a catchy soundtrack that is played most of the way through also. I have to say that I started to get a bit bored towards the end, mostly because I've seen it all before, but this is at least a worthy addition to an overpopulated genre and women in prison fans might get a kick out of it.

***WARNING! SPOILERS!*** I was kinda looking forward to this film, simply due to the fact that I am a great fan of the ravishing Exploitation goddess Laura Gemser. This is another entry to the popular "Black Emanuelle" series in which Gemser played the part of the nymphomaniac journalist Emanuelle. This is only the second film in the series I've seen so far, the other being the ultra-sleazy and vastly entertaining "Emanuelle And The Last Cannibals". This "Violenza In Un Carcere Femminile" is sadly not nearly as vastly entertaining, and basically a formula WIP (Women In Prison) flick, and not a good one I must say. The film is not really boring, but it lacks anything to make it specifically recommendable, other than Laura Gemser's several nude scenes (which doesn't make the film particularly memorable either, as she did nude scenes in every movie she was in). Emanuelle comes to a Women's prison this time in order to investigate corruption and abuse of the inmates. Not too surprisingly, both things take place at the institution...I expected the film to be extremely sleazy and exploitative, and it certainly is no Disney flick. It is genre-typically sleazy and full of the usual ingredients (sadistic lesbian wardens, sardonic punishments, catfights,...). There is also one extremely nasty sequence involving rats. It also adds some unnecessary elements (such as some scenes in a men's prison which is right next to the woman's prison) which only make the film longer. What really disappointed me was the ending. In the end WIP flicks the inmates usually take bloody revenge on their tormentors. They partly do here, too, but the two main bad guys (a male and a female warden) only get arrested. Not an adequate ending, in my opinion. This was directed by Bruno Mattei who (along with his protegé and assistant director Claudio Fragasso)is responsible for some of the worst films the generally great Italian Horror/Exploitation cinema has ever brought forth. While this "Violenza In Un Carcere Femminile" is not a terrible film, it is pretty damn tedious at times. Worthwhile for the sleaze and especially for Laura Gemser, but certainly not highly recommendable. Take it or leave it.

Spoilers ahead....Yes this movie is awesome. One of the better women's prison flicks for sure. A female reporter fakes a criminal record and dives head first into the brutal prison system. She gets raped, bitten bad by rats, beaten, whipped, and just plain tortured!!!Good movie for sure with lots and lots of female on female sex. This movie was also filmed in Rome which makes it unique. If you like female prison exploitation flicks this is a must see. Slasher reviewer, although this is not a slasher movie, gives this masterpiece a big thumbs up!!!!Check it out you won't be disappointed!!