In the short period of only one year, the infamous Italian director Bruno Mattei directed TWO films in the "Black Emanuelle"-series starring Laura Gemser that are both set inside the walls of women's prison. Yet, the 1982 film "Caged Women" differs a lot from this "Women's Prison Massacre", and the latter one doesn't even fully belongs in the entirely on sex revolving Emanuelle-cycle, anyway. "Women's Prison Massacre" is a truly brutal and shocking exploitation effort that seemly only carries the popular "Emanuelle"-label because it's a lot easier to promote the film that way! In case you're hoping to see another truckload of pointless sleaze, you'll be sorely disappointed, but in pretty much every other case, you're more likely to be very surprised by this exciting exploitation adventure! Instead of serving the same old and repetitive dish of whipping lesbian guards and helplessly abused prisoners, Mattei brings a versatile story that mainly revolves on 4 dangerously insane male criminals that take hostage over a female prison where they rape, torture and violate the inmates as well as their corrupt guards. Their main interest is the beautiful reporter Emanuelle, who's an innocent girl among a sick bunch of power-mad inmates. "Women's Prison Massacre" is an outrageous movie that covers pretty much every topic that exploitation fans want to see! Mattei's budget possibilities obviously were rather limited and therefore the film doesn't contain much gore, but it surely suggests a lot of sadism and stages several genuine shock-moments (like the tense Russian roulette-sequence, for example). Lead star Laura Gemser keeps her clothes on throughout the entire film (which must be a personal record for her), but for those who can't do without a minimal amount of nudity, there are multiple other gorgeous-looking actresses that go all the way, like Maria Romano Antonella Giacomini. The prison location works well and the script features many ingenious little ideas, like the razor blade payback (ouch!) and the aforementioned Russian roulette game. The ending comes a bit abrupt, though, and the recent DVD-release contains a lot of fuzzy and seemly ancient editing. This is definitely Bruno Mattei's best film and possibly even the finest "Women-in-Prison" flick ever. Highly recommended to cult fanatics and other sick puppies.