K-11 (film)
K-11 | |
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Movie poster | |
Directed by | Jules Stewart |
Produced by | Tom Wright, Jr. |
Written by |
Jules Stewart Jared Kurt |
Starring |
Goran Višnjić Kate del Castillo D. B. Sweeney |
Music by | Phillip Marshall |
Cinematography | Adam Silver |
Edited by | Duwayne Dunham |
Production company |
Libertine Films |
Distributed by | Breaking Glass Pictures |
Release dates |
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Running time | 88 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
K-11 is a 2012 American prison drama film co-written (with Jared Kurt) and directed by Jules Stewart. The film stars an ensemble cast of generally independent film actors including Goran Višnjić, Portia Doubleday, Jason Mewes, and Sonya Eddy. The film also includes Chiodos vocalist Craig Owens.
The term "K-11" refers to a dormitory section of the Los Angeles jail used to hold gay and transsexual inmates.[1] The film tells the story of Raymond Saxx Jr., a powerful record producer who wakes from a drug-induced blackout to find himself locked up and classified in the segregated "K-11" unit for LGBT inmates. The ward has a defacto leader who controls the black market drug trade in the unit, which is also run by a corrupt, abusive guard. Ray's struggle to contact the outside world and regain his freedom seems impossible, but he must learn to navigate the new power structure in K-11 if he is ever going to survive and get control of his life again.
Plot
Raymond Saxx Jr. is a powerful record producer who wakes from a drug-induced blackout to find himself locked up and classified in the segregated "K-11" unit for LGBT inmates. Plunged into a nightmarish world ruled by a transgender diva named Mousey, Raymond is truly a fish out of water. Complicating matters are a troubled but kind young transgender girl named Butterfly, a predatory child molester named Detroit, and the ruthless Sheriff's Deputy, Lt. Johnson, who sexually preys on inmates and abuses drugs. Ray's struggle to contact the outside world and regain his freedom seems impossible, but he must learn to navigate this new power structure if he is ever going to survive and get control of his life again.
The movie starts with Saxx in an LA prison, so high on drugs that he cannot be questioned. However, prison guard Johnson seems to take a special interest in him, bribes a colleague and puts him in a holding cell for cellblock K-11. With him is a young transgender woman who calls herself "Butterfly". After one night, Saxx is put in block K-11, though Butterfly is to remain in the holding cell overnight. Among others, he meets the self-proclaimed boss Mousey and the burly child molester Detroit. At first, the inmates frighten and disgust him, but he gradually begins to enjoy their company. There is a great trade in cocaine in the cellblock, which is being smuggled in by the guard who put Saxx in K-11, Lt. Johnson. When drug kingpin Ben refuses to give Johnson a bigger cut of the drugs, he is put in general population. Lt. Johnson attempts to rape Raymond during a riot caused by Mousey. After being raped by Detroit twice, Butterfly brutally murders him with a pair of razor blades and the other inmates help her to hide the weapons and they claim not to have witnessed the incident.
Saxx is told that he is being charged with the murder of his associate, songwriter Ian Sheffield, who happened to be having an affair with Saxx's wife. Saxx's lawyer informs him that his wife, the only witness of Ian's death, wants to divorce him, leaving him with only $30,000 and his car. If Saxx does not agree, his wife will testify that the death was a murder; if he does sign, she will tell police the death was an accident. Saxx signs the documents, knowing he will be released soon. He makes a deal with Mousey to get back at the corrupt Lt. Johnson before he leaves: Mousey has sex with Johnson and then files rape charges against him. After prison officers discover Johnson having sex with Mousey, Johnson is charged with rape and the murder of Detroit before being taken into custody and put in a cell next to Ben, who implies Johnson will be punished by other inmates. To complete the deal, Saxx deposits $13,000 in Mousey's account before being released. When he is a free man, his only assets are $17,000 and his car. When he gets into his luxury car, his first step is to get rid of the drug stash hidden in the vehicle.
Cast
- Goran Višnjić as Raymond Saxx, Jr.
- Kate del Castillo as Mousey
- D. B. Sweeney as Lt. Gerard Johnson
- Portia Doubleday as Butterfly
- Jason Mewes as Ben Shapiro
- Tommy "Tiny" Lister Jr. as Detroit
- Sonya Eddy as Teresa Luna
- Luis Moncada as ShyBoy
- Craig Owens as Ian Sheffield
- Tiffany Mulheron as Tia Saxx
- P. J. Byrne as C.R.
- Paul Zies as Washington
- Tara Buck as Crystal
- Lou Beatty, Jr. as Granny
- Billy Morrison as Hollywood
- Ralph Cole, Jr. as Kay-Kay
- Markus Redmond as Precious
- Cameron B. Stewart as Sledgehammer
- Franc Ross as Wino
- Tim De Zarn as Sgt. Les ″Cowboy″ WIlliams
- Michael Shamus Wiles as Captain Davis
- John Prosky as Simon Schwartz
- Ian Nelson as Rookie Harris
Production
K-11 was announced in November 2008 with Jules Stewart to write and direct and Kristen Stewart, Jules' daughter, and her Twilight co-star Nikki Reed in roles,[2] but both later dropped out due to scheduling conflicts with the Twilight films. When Kristen and Nikki dropped out in July 2011, her brother, Cameron, was given a role.[3]
Director
Jules Stewart is best known as a script supervisor. K-11 is the first film she has directed. Her daughter, Kirsten Stewart, is a successful film actress.
Release
The film premiered at the Turin Film Festival on November 16, 2012 and was released in the United States on March 15, 2013.
Reception
The film's DVD cover refers to the film to be "like a deranged John Waters remake of The Shawshank Redemption." It was panned by movie critics and received an 8% "rotten" rating from Rotten Tomatoes.
References
- ↑ "Gay Jail Inmates Get Chance to Learn - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. 2004-04-07. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
- ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: 'Twilight' Stars Kristen Stewart & Nikki Reed To Reunite, Play Men In Prison Film 'K-11'". MTV. Viacom. 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
- ↑ "Kristen Stewart Drops Out Of Transgender Indie 'K-11'". MTV. Viacom. 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
External links
- K-11 at the Internet Movie Database
- K-11 at Rotten Tomatoes