A gangster carries out a diamond heist but is then killed by his moll (Lina Romay) who is then incarcerated because of her actions.

This is Jesus Franco’s entry into the ‘women in prison’ sub-genre. All of the necessary ingredients are here- nudity, lesbianism, sadistic wardens, creepy guards who ply the women with ciggies for sex, woman on woman violence (one woman is murdered when she grasses on another prisoner). There’s also a very eye-watering scene in which the lead is tortured whilst she’s naked and being electrocuted in her, erm, most intimate bodily region.

Whilst others have found Women Behind Bars boring, I loved it. Romay’s character is very interesting indeed, and will stop at absolutely nothing to make her situation better and to grab the upper hand. She has a black heart which is fantastic for such exploitation fare. She reminded me of the lead from the film The Last Seduction.

Far from boring and with a colour palette which resembles an acid flashback, this is highly recommended.

4 out of 5 stars