Animal Factory

Ron Decker is a young man from a comfortable background whose drug case turns into a prison sentence at San Quentin. Small and unprepared for the brutality around him, he quickly attracts the attention of inmates looking for someone weak to prey on. Earl Copen, a long-term prisoner who knows how the place works and has learned to survive inside it, takes Ron under his protection. What begins as a practical arrangement between a veteran and a newcomer develops into a bond that gives Earl a sense of purpose, even as the pressure and violence of prison life keep closing in on them. The film is based on Edward Bunker's novel, and Bunker co-wrote the screenplay with John Steppling.

Steve Buscemi directed, following his 1996 debut Trees Lounge. The cast includes Willem Dafoe, Edward Furlong, Danny Trejo, Mark Boone Junior, Seymour Cassel and Mickey Rourke. It was made for about 4 million dollars, a modest budget for a prison drama. On IMDb it holds a 6.6 rating from around 16,000 votes, while on TMDB it has a 6.3 from roughly 271 votes, suggesting a small but engaged audience. A critics' rating of 7.3 from 35 reviews places it above both audience scores. Buscemi went on to direct Interview in 2007.