CELL 213 (Canada 2011) **
Directed by Stephen Kay

God vs. the Devil battles (for souls) apparently have going on since the start of time.  CELL 213 is supposedly to be about one such important battle. This battle takes place in Cell 213 over the soul of cocky young attorney Michael Gray (Eric Balfour).

But the film lacks the energy or urgency of the so-mentioned battle.  The main reason is the lack of a strong connecting narrative.  A few of the scenes are intense enough – escaping a homosexual rape; murder by pen etc, but director Kay seems unworried about joining them together to form a coercive whole.

It does not help that the lead character is a nasty fellow whom the audience would unlikely root for.  He is a dirty lawyer (very good-looking at least, Eric Balfour) who at the film’s start, has paid off thugs to prevent a witness from taking the stand, thus winning his case.  But a murder frame-up finds him in prison and having to fend himself off not only the inmates but the guards and cops for his previous dirty dealings.

Balfour has cinematic presence and the supporting cast is also quite good, most having made their name in low budget thrillers or horror films like this one.  Michael Rooker is one such actor, playing a guard who always does what he is told.

CELL 213 is watchable but lacks continuity and sustained suspense.  Kay and his gang could have done much better.