Midnight Express | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

Audience Reviews

Arid S Stressed the life out of me, I just wanted him free, billy was tortured this film is something else. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/22/24 Full Review Aender S Brutal but engrossing film with great acting and an excellent musical score. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/22/24 Full Review Mike P Stunning captivity drama penned by American Ex-patriot and student Billy Hayes, (and adapted to a screenplay by Oliver Stone); based on his own real-life experiences as a young man, en route to the States on a routine trip; who was suddenly apprehended and thrown into a Turkish Prison for four years for smuggling hashish...And then then it's like a Heart of Darkness type journey through hell; as he struggles to survive for four years in a Turkish Prison.(!!) The opening scenes in particular are VERY powerful; (it's impossible not to imagine yourself in that situation, the way they film it); and this serve as a stunning "Just Say No" type cautionary tale...It's all so gritty and intense; and it grabs you by the jugular from that unforgettable opening sequence...Excellent work from the always reliable Alan Parker; the surefooted director; who brilliantly creates a sense of gritty urgency; and gritty determinism from the opening shots...Good work from Brad Davis too; who has such a vulnerable, young-man/wounded puppy look about him in this movie, that you can't help sort of falling in love with him and feel sorry for him...(Even though his actions were IDIOTIC!!) Anyway; impressive job from everyone... Infact I'd say this is a minor classic from the 70s..Overall: 👍 RecommendedPS. THIS is likely the movie where that old saying "I'd rather be locked up in a Turkish Prison for two years" came from...Because Turkish Prisons weren't even part of the national zeitgeist until this movie came out. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/10/24 Full Review Martin F A difficult movie with harsh but beautiful visuals. Midnight Express is a controversial movie, the main character is stuck in a cycle of mental and physical torture in what looks like one of the most horrible place in the world. The movie is all about maintaining hope and subsequently humanity but none of the characters succeed to do so. The visuals contribute a lot to the atmosphere of the movie, it's all about sand, used structures, sweats, naked bodies and dusts; you can feel the unbearable heat through the scenes. There is a homoerotic overtone of the movie that really contribute to the unique atmosphere of Midnight Express.The movie can be pretty controversial for Turkey representation as their prison and justice system are pictured are deeply flawed and inhuman. In one scene, the main character made a whole speech about how he hates the country and his people. Despite, being obviously a gross exaggeration of what Turkey really is, it shows the main character's point of view, as he is going through hell and have a justifiable anger to express. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/02/24 Full Review Definitely B One of the best movies 🎥 made a whole country mad 😂 Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/28/23 Full Review Tony M A great movie from start to finish. If you like Prison movies, Midnight Express is one of the best. A must see. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Midnight Express

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