Sean Penn portrays O’Brien, a man imprisoned after unintentionally causing the death of an eight-year-old boy. His experiences within the prison system expose him to typical difficulties and intimidation, but he finds an unexpected connection with Horowitz, a clever electronics expert played by Eric Gurry. Gradually, O'Brien begins to understand how things work, gain control, and prosper in this environment. The plot thickens when he discovers that the deceased boy’s older brother has attacked his girlfriend, JC – Ally Sheedy appears briefly – and is now also held within the same prison walls, setting up a dangerous confrontation with Paco, portrayed by Esai Morales. Penn has often chosen challenging roles, and here he performs adequately, although without much flair. The supporting cast, particularly Clancy Brown as the stereotypical prison inmate Lofgren, largely feel like background figures, contributing little to the narrative as this straightforward revenge story unfolds over two hours. While it may have resonated more strongly when initially released, revisiting it four decades later reveals a verbose retelling of a familiar storyline; it’s easy to consume but equally simple to dismiss.

Source on TMDB