MovieChat Forums > Wedlock (1991) Discussion > One giant flaw in the Wedlock system...

One giant flaw in the Wedlock system...

posted 13 years ago by NewNewJersey
17 replies | jump to latest

I love this film, so don't get me wrong...but the prison has one gaping logic problem.

Tobolowsky explains to the inmates all about their wedlock collars, and that you won't know who your partner is so you cannot cross the blue line. Right?

Except we see multiple times that when the distance is too great, BOTH collars start to beep, warning the wearers to get closer again. So all you have to do is take a step over the blue line, see which collar starts to beep when yours does and voilà! You know who your partner and you both walk on out of there. :)

[–] TufrThanu 13 years ago

Good point!

[–] C.S.Wood 13 years ago

But you would also have to be within visual distance of them (or have a friend who will tell you whose collar beeped). The prison had to be big enough so that two people with matching collars could be at opposite sides of the prison (while still within the line) and have the collars not go off.

Finding out whose collar you're linked to would not be as simple as taking one step outside the zone unless you knew for a fact your partner was exactly 100 yards away from you.

Don't try to cash in love, that check will always bounce.

[–] deathposture 13 years ago

Also, why didn't they put some kind of tracking device in the collars? I know it was made in 1991, but they must have had some kind of early GPS technology back then.

[–] taz420nj 12 years ago

That kind of technology (tracking/homing devices) has been used in sci-fi movies for decades. What I found amusing was Holliday's "magic button" that he claimed could detonate the collars wherever they were. Given the lack of a full coverage 'repeater' system, the effective range of such a remote would only be a few thousand feet at most. However one could infer that Holliday was simply bluffing, counting on Sam/Noelle's ignorance of how the system works to increase his cut.

Also I can't believe that they went with '100 yards' as the safe range. That is a TINY area. That's approximately two football fields side by side. It is ludicrous to believe that an entire prison facility - even a small scale experimental one - is encompassed within that small of an area. Had they said 500 yards, I'd buy that, but not 100.

[–] DarkMessias 12 years ago

I never understood why the collars are not connected with some stationary Device.
So that it explodes when they leaving the Prison Area.

[–] athomas1 12 years ago

A stationary device would just encourage those who wanted to commit suicide anyway to cross the line. Linking two random prisoners was an effective way to not only make sure the prisoners stayed under control, but it forced the inmate to make sure the other prisoners stayed in line, almost eliminating the need for guards all together.

[–] HOKfilms 10 years ago

A stationary device would just encourage those who wanted to commit suicide anyway to cross the line. Linking two random prisoners was an effective way to not only make sure the prisoners stayed under control, but it forced the inmate to make sure the other prisoners stayed in line, almost eliminating the need for guards all together.

If a guy wanted to commit suicide, being linked to another prisoner isnt going to stop him. If anything its a stupid idea linking two prisoners for this exact reason. Stationary device would work much better because nobody would ever try to step outside the prison unless they only wanted to commit suicide which would at least only kill them and not a second prisoner, which would sort of make the prison liable for the system they use.

I <3 Emily Blunt

[–] spookyrat1 8 years ago

Had they said 500 yards, I'd buy that, but not 100.

Agreed, that is more realistic. Regarding the thread question, was it ever categorically stated, or demonstrated that "warnings" were given? I thought Holliday stated, if you got past 100 metres, that was that and the collars went off. No second chances!🐭

[–] AGood 7 years ago

The thing people are forgetting which was revealed later in the film. There are two mechanisms that cause the collar to go off.

The first was the going too far from your matching prisoner. The second is the prison warden has the ability to detonate the collars by the push of a button no matter how far they are away.

He never used it as he was wanting Rutger Haur to get the diamonds. The whole escape was a setup as Mimi Rodgers was in on it too and all sorts. At the end of the film when he pushes the button to detonate the explosive. It was inside the helicopter with him.

So really if two prisoners escaped. The warden would probably just immediately press that button and kill them both.

[–] hbinefa 12 years ago

I wonder if all the inmates decided to escape together in group. That would be hilarious.

I'm so excited, I think I'll brush all my teeth today!

[–] matt_shade 10 years ago

Of course it would work but then what?

It's not nihilism if there's a question mark at the end.

[–] HOKfilms 10 years ago

all youd have to do is go until your collar beeped, then go back and find out later who's elses beeped that day. You dont have to physically see them.

I <3 Emily Blunt

[–] gabs_15 11 years ago

I think it should just cycle partners. So whoever your partner is one day isn't the same person the next. Or every hour.

[–] Danielborges 11 years ago

Those are some interesting ideas.
I saw the movie when i was a kid and thought the same: why the pair system? Why not exploding individually if your too far from some point inside the prison?

But like someone said above, mutual control is very efective!

Your lies have killed more men in a day than i have in a lifetime. --CSM--

[–] djryback 9 years ago

Let me tell you 'why the pair system' :)
Because they needed a plot :)

[–] ilon 10 years ago

Tobolowsky explains to the inmates all about their wedlock collars, and that you won't know who your partner is so you cannot cross the blue line. Right?

Except we see multiple times that when the distance is too great, BOTH collars start to beep, warning the wearers to get closer again. So all you have to do is take a step over the blue line, see which collar starts to beep when yours does and voilà! You know who your partner and you both walk on out of there.

Would you take that risk? Because they don't know about that.

[–] moviechatterer (13146) 2 years ago

Now thats a plot hole!

This is that 1% time when the term has been used correctly!

see how thats done Millsey?