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Barbed Wire Dolls

Barbed Wire Dolls is a 1976 film from Switzerland, directed by Jesús Franco, running 90 minutes. reelscum files it under women in prison.

Poster for Barbed Wire Dolls
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Year
1976 · 1970s films
Country
Switzerland
Runtime
90 min
Updated
29 Oct 2026
Obscurity
cult (47/100)
Also known as
Barbed Wire Dolls · Caged Women · Women's Penitentiary IV · Jailhouse Wardress

Defined in the glossary: Women in prison

Jess Franco's contribution to the cycle. Cheap, delirious and utterly shameless, even for him.

Jess Franco's entry in the women-in-prison sweepstakes, set in a nightmarish tropical prison run by a sadistic warden and a mad governor, following the usual formula of abuse, madness and eventual revolt. Even by WIP standards it is cheap, incoherent and relentlessly sleazy, shot with Franco's characteristic zooms and indifference to continuity.

Lina Romay stars, and the film is more a delirium than a narrative. It represents the absolute bottom of the cycle's budget and taste, which for a certain kind of viewer is the entire appeal. Pure, unfiltered Franco exploitation.

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Where to watch

No legal stream, rental or purchase that we could find in the usual regions. For films this obscure that is common, and availability changes, so it is worth checking again later.

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On these lists

  • Women in prison: the essentials

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Filed alongside

Poster for Reform School Girls

Reform School Girls

1986 · USA · 94m
Obscurity: cult. watchable legally

The women-in-prison film as its own punchline, fronted by the lead singer of the Plasmatics.

Poster for Chained Heat

Chained Heat

1983 · USA/West Germany · 95m
Obscurity: cult. watchable legally

Linda Blair goes to prison. A sleazy 80s update of the formula, with a corrupt warden and a hot tub.

Poster for The Big Doll House

The Big Doll House

1971 · USA · 95m
Obscurity: cult. watchable legally

Jack Hill and Pam Grier invent the modern formula in the Philippines.

Poster for Female Prisoner 701: Scorpion

Female Prisoner 701: Scorpion

1972 · Japan · 87m
Obscurity: cult. watchable legally

Sold as a women-in-prison quickie. Shot like an art film. Meiko Kaji barely blinks.

Poster for The Big Bird Cage

The Big Bird Cage

1972 · USA · 88m
Obscurity: cult. watchable legally

Funnier and better than the first. Sid Haig is having an excellent time.

Poster for Love Camp 7

Love Camp 7

1969 · USA · 94m
Obscurity: cult. watchable legally. banned somewhere

The film that invented nazisploitation six years before Ilsa made it a genre.

Poster for Black Mama White Mama

Black Mama White Mama

1973 · USA · 87m
Obscurity: cult. watchable legally

The Defiant Ones with Pam Grier, shot in the Philippines by a Filipino who actually knew the terrain.

Poster for Women's Prison Massacre

Women's Prison Massacre

1983 · Italy/France · 89m
Obscurity: cult. watchable legally

Late Italian entry. Laura Gemser, and a body count instead of a plot.

Poster for Women in Cages

Women in Cages

1971 · USA · 78m
Obscurity: cult. watchable legally

Pam Grier as the sadist for once. Bleaker than its stablemates.

Poster for 99 Women

99 Women

1969 · West Germany/Italy · 108m
Obscurity: cult. watchable legally

Franco doing the formula early, with Mercedes McCambridge as the warden.