Midnight Express (1978)

Midnight Express (1978) follows American college student Billy Hayes after he is arrested at Istanbul airport for attempting to smuggle nearly two kilos of hashish out of Turkey. What begins as a routine legal fight quickly spirals into a nightmare: an initially modest sentence is overturned by the Turkish courts, and Billy is plunged into a brutal, corrupt prison system where a sadistic guard and inmate power dynamics make survival a daily battle. Befriending a few fellow prisoners — including an older English inmate and a fellow American — Billy faces mounting hopelessness and must choose between waiting on appeals or risking everything to “catch the midnight express” and escape. If you watch this film you’ll experience a relentless, harrowing drama that emphasizes claustrophobia, fear and moral desperation over light relief. The performances (notably the lead’s deterioration and the viciousness of the guards) make the prison’s cruelty feel immediate; scenes of intimidation, mental and physical abuse, and the breakdown of trust among inmates are depicted in raw, unflinching detail. The film alternates slow-building legal and emotional anguish with tense, adrenaline-charged moments as escape becomes the only option, leaving the viewer emotionally exhausted but deeply engaged. Themes include survival under dehumanizing systems, the consequences of desperation, and the thin line between victim and survivor. Strong warnings: the movie contains intense violence, torture, and disturbing prison conditions. Recommended for viewers prepared for a bleak, powerful true-crime/drama that prioritizes realism and psychological intensity over comfort.

Actors: Brad Davis, Irene Miracle, Bo Hopkins

Director: Alan Parker

Runtime: 121 min

Genres: Biography, Crime, Drama

7.7 /10 59 /100 7.5 /10 7.0 /10