Synopsis
In the future, the inmates of a private underground prison are computer-controlled with cameras, dream readers, and devices that can cause pain or death. John and his illegally pregnant wife Karen are locked inside "The Fortress" but are determined to escape before the birth of their baby.
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Cast
- Christophe LambertJohn Henry Brennick
- Kurtwood SmithPrison Director Poe
- Loryn LocklinKaren B. Brennick
- Clifton Collins Jr.Nino Gomez
- Jeffrey CombsD-Day, the Computer Geek
- Lincoln KilpatrickAbraham
- Tom TowlesStiggs
- Vernon WellsMaddox
- Carolyn Purdy-GordonZed-10
- Alan ZitnerClaustrophobic Prisoner
Recommendations
- 70
The New York Times
For all its faults, Fortress has an unusually energetic imagination. At its best, it blends "Robocop," "The Handmaid's Tale" and "Brave New World" into something scary, original and grimly amusing. - 70
Los Angeles Times
For a film that first seems a throwaway, it has unusual intensity and grip. It’s not another over-reaching, under-financed “Terminator” or “Total Recall” wanna-be. - 67
Entertainment Weekly
When Lambert is onscreen, Fortress is just an effective action cheapie. Whenever Smith is the focus, it approaches junk poetry. - 50
Time Out
While confined to the futuristic prison interiors, the film works reasonably well; but once Lambert springs his wife from the women's section and escapes, the limitations of budget and narrative imagination start to show. As it moves away from the ensemble feel of the early scenes, this quickly degenerates into a part explosive, part sentimental star vehicle. - 50
ReelViews
Fortress isn't terrible science fiction, but it's pretty bad. Hampered by a poorly- constructed storyline, the movie never gets on track. Instead of entering the rarefied atmosphere inhabited by such films as Aliens and the original Terminator, it falls in line with the likes of Freejack and Alien 3. Not the best company to be in, but it could be worse. Watch 1992's Split Second and you'll understand how bad things can get in this genre. After that experience, Fortress will look like high art. - 42
Tampa Bay Times
Fortress is a 91-minute sentence of bland deja vu for sci-fi watchers. - 40
Empire
Lambert fails to convince as the action star and somehow it is left to a computer to steal the show. - 30
Washington Post
A moment past its concept, Fortress settles into a mix of sci-fi and prison cliches that result in predictable and often silly confrontations, including a not-so-great escape. Much of the blame lies with Lambert, as vapid here as he has been in the "Highlander" fiascoes.
