a.k.a. Prisoners

directed by Ciro H. Santiago

Cast: Jewel Shepard, Vic Diaz, Pamella D'Pella, Susan Harvey, Akiko Hiral

Caged Heat 2 may bring back some of those fond memories of early 70's Corman produced Filipino WIP flicks to those who have not viewed them lately. The prison itself looks just like the one used almost 30 years ago during Women In Cages. There is certainly enough references to the Big Bird Cage such as a Jewel Sheppard getting the hung by hair treatment like Anitra Ford experienced. There is also the presence of Vic Diaz as Warden Chen who keeps a large cage full of birds! Diaz does provide some demented moments, but nothing like his gay guard character form Bird Cage. Director Santiago is a veteran of WIP films, and did produce the Big Bird Cage, but he never seems to capture the right tone. In Santiago's defense, he doesn't have much to work with here, namely actress Jewel Sheppard.

This attractive lady can fight, but has a very difficult time delivering her lines. Besides Santiago's producing credit, why are there so many references to The Big Bird Cage, and none to Jonathan Demme's classic Caged Heat? I understand that Santiago is from the Phillipines, but isn't this Caged Heat2! There is even a homage to Sweet Sugar! The film definitely has a bigger budget than it's predecessor, but it's typical New Horizon fare. The plot involves Sheppard as a CIA agent sent in to a prison to rescue a Dictator's daughter played by the scrumptious Chanel Akiko Hirai. Her operatives get ratted out, and she is left on her own to figure a way out. Caged Heat 2 plays it safe, and never pushes the envelope.

It's a shame because there are some moments that work. The cat fight sequences are well staged, and there is some pretty nice gunplay. The biggest disappointment is that the nudity content is strictly Cinemax. You know your not going to get a whole lot when the inmates where those huge baggy orange uniforms. I can't leave out how bad the soundtrack is to this film. It has to be lifted from some political thriller that New Horizon put out because it sure doesn't fit a single sequence of this film. I recommend a trip back to the 70's flick where they knew how to utilize the filipino locations, had wittier scripts, and much better acting from their leading ladies. A 12 pack time waster at best.