Mean Guns is a 1997 action-thriller film directed by Albert Pyun. The story revolves around a group of 100 mid- and low-level gangsters who are summoned by their boss, Mr. Vincent, to a newly-built high-security prison. Mr. Vincent is furious with his underlings for various reasons, including stealing from him, betraying him, and disrespecting him. He has decided to have them all killed in one fell swoop by pitting them against each other in a deadly game.
As soon as the gangsters arrive, they are stripped of their clothes and personal belongings and given a number and a locker in which to store their weapons. They are then herded into the main cellblock, which has been rigged with explosives that will detonate if anyone tries to escape. They are warned that only one of them will leave the prison alive, and that the last survivor will receive a suitcase containing 10 million dollars in cash.
At first, the gangsters are confused and suspicious of Mr. Vincent's motives. Some of them form alliances and try to pool their resources to increase their chances of survival. Others decide to go it alone and try to eliminate as many competitors as possible. As the hours tick by, the violence escalates into a full-blown free-for-all, with gangsters killing each other in increasingly gruesome ways.
The film is notable for its rapid-fire editing, flashy camera work, and over-the-top violence, as well as for its eclectic cast of actors, including Ice-T, Christopher Lambert, Michael Halsey, and Deborah Van Valkenburgh. Despite its low budget and somewhat cheesy premise, Mean Guns has become a cult classic among action movie fans, who appreciate its visceral thrills and unabashed embrace of excess and mayhem.