Written and directed by S. Craig Zahler, the plot revolves around Bradley Thomas, a drug mule forced to undertake a dangerous mission within a maximum security prison to save his pregnant wife from a wrathful drug lord. Zahler conceived the script after immersing himself in various prison films, casting Vaughn for his departure from his typical comedic roles and dedication to authenticity.Â
Filmed in Staten Island, New York City, production for the S. Craig Zahler movie spanned from August to October 2016 with a budget of $4 million. Premiering at the 74th Venice International Film Festival, Brawl in Cell Block 99 saw a theatrical release in October 2017, garnering positive reviews for Vaughn’s performance and its gritty 1970s-grindhouse aesthetic, earning recognition from esteemed publications like the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and The A.V. Club.