Stir
Stir

Movie spotlight

Stir

1980
Movie
97 min
English

Filmed in the Clare Valley, Gladstone and the Flinders Ranges in South Australia, this prison movie was inspired by the true life prison riot at Bathurst Jail in 1974 and its subsequent Royal Commission into New South Wales Prisons.

Insights

IMDb5.7/10
Director: Don TaylorGenres: Action, Crime, Thriller

Plot Summary

While serving a lengthy prison sentence for armed robbery, homicide detective Jack Nolen plots his revenge against the corrupt warden who framed him. He orchestrates a violent prison riot, using the ensuing chaos to escape and pursue his mission of vengeance against those who wronged him.

Critical Reception

Stir is a gritty and violent action film that received mixed to negative reviews upon its release. Critics often pointed to its brutal content and conventional plot, though some acknowledged its efficient pacing and the performances of its lead actors.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film's violence is often highlighted as excessive.

  • The plot is seen as predictable and formulaic.

  • Some praised John Saxon's performance as the determined protagonist.

Google audience: Audience reviews for Stir are scarce, but those available generally reflect a mixed reception, with some appreciating the straightforward action and others finding it too violent or unoriginal.

Fun Fact

The film was shot on location at the former Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Washington, which had been decommissioned years prior.

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TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
John Chard

John Chard

Nails! Directed by Stephen Wallace and written by Bob Jewson, Stir stars Bryan Brown, Max Phipps, Dennis Miller, Gary Waddell and Phil Motherwell. Music is by Cameron Allan and cinematography by Geoff Burton. Stir is a tough Australia...