The Fortress (1994 film)

The Fortress is a 1994 science fiction action film directed by Stuart Gordon. It stars Christopher Lambert, Loryn Locklin, and Kurtwood Smith. The film is set in a dystopian future where excessive procreation is illegal.

Plot Summary:

John and Karen Brennick are a married couple expecting their second child. Due to the government's "One Child Policy," they attempt to cross the border from the United States to Canada to have their baby. They are apprehended and sentenced to imprisonment in The Fortress, a maximum-security, privately-owned prison deep underground. The Fortress is controlled by a powerful computer and run by the sadistic Prison Director, Poe (Kurtwood Smith), who utilizes advanced technology, including "Intesti-Knockers" (devices implanted in the prisoners that can cause excruciating pain), to maintain control.

John quickly learns the brutal realities of The Fortress and becomes determined to escape with his wife and unborn child. He befriends a group of fellow inmates and together they devise a plan to overthrow Poe and dismantle the prison's oppressive technology. The film follows their struggle for survival and freedom against Poe's technological dominance and ruthless methods.

Cast:

• Christopher Lambert as John Henry Brennick
• Loryn Locklin as Karen Brennick
• Kurtwood Smith as Prison Director Poe
• Jeffrey Combs as D-Day
• Tom Towles as Abraham
• Lincoln Kilpatrick as Niils
• Vernon Wells as Maddox

Reception:

The Fortress received mixed reviews upon its release. While some praised its action sequences and dystopian setting, others criticized its plot and special effects. The film was a modest commercial success.

Sequel:

A sequel, Fortress 2: Re-Entry, was released in 2000. Christopher Lambert reprised his role as John Henry Brennick.