Throughout this nightmarish tale of injustice, director Alan Parker never allows the audience's sense of fear and dread to wane. It is impossible to shake the feeling of insanity brought upon by the corrupt Turkish prison system, so vividly portrayed here. The murky, hazy camerawork further enhances the alienation. Though often unbearably frustrating and graphically violent, Midnight Express is an exceptional accomplishment from Parker and screenwriter Oliver Stone; one need only look at pale imitations such as Brokedown Palace and Return to Paradise to gauge its quality.