Lights Out (R)
December 21, 2009
Lights Out (R)
Genre: Christmas ghost story
December 12th. Retired detective, Ginny Swine (Judi Dench) is speeding through Florida, when she is arrested for drunk driving and sentenced to spend Christmas in Florida State Prison (the Alcratraz of the Everglades).
As an ex cop, she is shunned by both inmates and guards. The only person who even acknowledges her presence is troubled teen gangbanger, LaWanda (Gabourey Sidibe) who is heavily pregnant and due to give birth on December 25th. LaWanda & Ginny strike up an unlikely friendship and Ginny teaches her how to defend herself against rival gang members.
Unfortunately, Ginny is unable to defend herself from the terror that visits her cell every night. Just after lights out, she is repeatedly raped by the ghost of Aileen Wournos (Charlize Theron) – the executed serial killer was the previous occupant of Ginny’s cell & now haunts it.
Ginny & LaWanda realise neither of them (nor the baby) will survive much longer if they stay in jail, so they decide to attempt the impossible and escape.
Long story short, they escape, just in time for LaWanda’s baby to be born in freedom on Christmas day. They go their separate ways and LaWanda leaves her life of crime behind.
Months later, LaWanda (now a successful businesswoman) tries to discreetly track down the cop who saved her life, to thank her properly, but is shocked to discover that Ginny Swine died in car accident on December 12th! oooooh!
**soundtrack includes the surprise Christmas No.1 ‘O Holy Night’ by Dave Crosby & Susan Boyle
