Although Turkey is one of the most modern muslim states around , it always had it's problems since the country tries to establish a democracy via military violence . The nation's jail situation though is not presented here as an impersonal documentary but through telling the true story of Billy Hayes who was sentenced to life imprisonment for carrying drugs . In fact , Midnight Express is more about this young man's tragedy than it is about Turkey . Parker has created a movie so schockingly realistic and brutal that leaves the viewer speachless . Brad Davis who died in the early 90's is excellent too , delivering an emotional perfomance which is the heart of the film . The atrocities taking place inside the prison are being displayed here with all the details and the result is sometimes too much for some of us ( the tongue-bitting is one of the best and most scary paranoia sequences ever made ) . A few seconds before the end titles , as Hayes disguised is watching a military viacle coming his way , i've experienced more agony and fear in my life than ever while watching a film .