Murder in the First (1995)

In the chilling corridors of America's most notorious penitentiary, Alcatraz, we find Henri Young, a man whose crime of stealing five dollars from a post office spirals him into a world of punishing darkness. His desperate attempt to escape the island prison is thwarted, catapulting him into a bleak abyss of solitary confinement. In a dungeon devoid of light, heat, and even basic necessities, Young is subjected to three years and two months of relentless torment at the hands of Milton Glenn, the assistant warden. Emboldened by his superior's apathy, Glenn wields his power mercilessly. A straight razor in his hand becomes the instrument of Young's lifetime of hobbling pain. When finally released from his solitary hell and thrust back amongst his fellow inmates, Young's soul harbors an inferno of resentment and fury. It takes only a spoon and the perfect opportunity for him to exact his revenge on Rufus McCain, the fellow prisoner whose betrayal caused his failed escape attempt. The act is swift and fatal, a knife plunged into the neck, ending McCain's life and setting the stage for Young's trial for first-degree murder. The gas chamber looms ominously as a possible fate, but standing between Young and his demise is James Stamphill, an ambitious and idealistic public defender. Faced with an uphill battle, Stamphill makes a shocking argument in the courtroom: Young was not the only murderer. The true accomplice, he contends, is none other than Alcatraz itself. This gripping tale, based on a true story, is a haunting exploration of how an unforgiving system can strip a man of his humanity, turning him into a desperate creature fighting for survival. Murder in the First is a riveting journey through the darkest corners of the American penal system and the human spirit.

Murder in the First is a crime movie featuring Christian Slater and directed by Marc Rocco.

Murder in the First is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on The Roku Channel and Tubi TV.

It is also possible to buy Murder in the First on Amazon Video, Apple TV, DIRECTV, Google Play Movies, Vudu and YouTube.