Leofwine_draca Van Damme is an actor who has made some rubbish films in his time, it really has to be said. UNIVERSAL SOLDIER: THE RETURN was abysmal, THE ORDER was also appalling, and DOUBLE TEAM wasn't much better. Thankfully, IN HELL shows us a Van Damme who is back on track, teamed once more with the winning director Ringo Lam in an atypical drama movie which engages the senses and is a thoroughly enjoyable film experience despite the gruelling subject matter.Yes, it's a prison movie, with all of the expected clichés and references to the likes of LOCK UP, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, THE GREEN MILE, and DEATH WARRANT. However, this is an utterly serious film, expect no comedy, and it goes through some of the darkest subject matter that is filmable: graphic male and female rape, ultra violent street fights (complete with torn jugulars and blood fountaining all over) and horrendous living conditions – once we see Van Damme literally bathing in a pool of urine.The dialogue is surprisingly good in places, and the jumble of sub-plots, ideas, themes, and action makes it really watchable – you never really know what's going to happen next. The action is hard knuckle and exciting, with really despicable villains, and there is at least one emotional moment that had me on the edge of my seat. Van Damme is a decent actor now and he carries the complex leading role very well indeed, so no complaints there either. If you enjoy prison flicks, you'll love this no-holds-barred shocker just as much as I did.

boney thomas This movie was a complete surprise. I have always seen Van Damme as a great action hero and most of his movie doesn't have any story. When I started watching this one, I expected same action stuff but it completely took me by surprise. The movie started with some action stuff but then on the real story evolves. There is no big surprises around but it was not all out action. Van Damme managed to emote well and the prison torture scenes were well done. After seeing this film,most of us will fear to death if we even dream of getting into a prison like this. All actors as prison wardens and inmates given the movie the exact feel it needed.Watch this movie without any expectation and you wont be disappointed..

Comeuppance Reviews Kyle LeBlanc (Van Damme) is an American who works in Russia. When his wife is murdered, he gets revenge and kills the assailant. Unfortunately, rather than be the end of the movie, it's just the beginning of the nightmare for Kyle. He's sent to a harsh, unforgiving Russian prison (is there any other kind?). While in there trying to survive, it comes to light that the corrupt guards bet on Punchfighting matches which they call "The Sparka" between the inmates. Kyle trains and fights, and becomes good, but in the process begins to lose his soul. Thanks to cellmate 451 (Taylor), Kyle starts the process of escaping his prisons, both mental and physical.It may have been stated before, but In Hell is truly a return to form for Van Damme. After the horrendous Derailed (2002), he probably re-assessed his life and career and demanded he do something of quality. This may be an educated speculation, but In Hell is the result. It's shot and directed well, as Ringo Lam is a talented man, and Van Damme probably thought it was foolproof to fall back on his Maximum Risk (1996) and Replicant (2001) director to deliver a good, solid production. He was right.Interestingly, In Hell balances bare-knuckle, hard-core Punchfighting with a surprising amount of depth and philosophy, primarily delivered by Lawrence Taylor (of all people) as 451. The movie shows how Kyle becomes feral and animalistic, and begins to lose his identity. But he must search his soul to get it back. On top of that, there's even some parallels to the biblical Samson story. Van Damme has a beard and long hair at one point. Can he maintain his abilities once it becomes a soul patch? While there is some CGI (we'll forgive the CGI moth, but the CGI planes are unnecessary), if you think about such movies as The Quest (1996), and compare that to this, you truly see Van Damme's range as a performer and martial artist. The Quest, for all intents and purposes, is a kid's movie, and In Hell certainly isn't. Those are two ends of his spectrum, and any JCVD haters out there should keep that in mind. He clearly saw In Hell as a chance to stretch and push himself as an actor/martial artist (in itself a good sign that at his age he still wants to grow and learn), and In Hell was the perfect vehicle to do that, and the results are winning and entertaining, while delivering a different kind of Van Damme. So it could be said that it was a success all around.Thirteen years after Death Warrant (1990), Van Damme returns to prison. And we should all be glad he did. In Hell is a Van Damme winner.For more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com

Robert W. There was a time when Jean-Claude Van Damme was truly a person to be reckoned with at the box office. I know that seems hard to believe now when you see a different straight to video film from him every other week. That isn't to say that his action films aren't still solid. Regardless of what you think of his acting ability you have to give him kudos for being a great action star and very talented in martial arts. I haven't seen a lot or any of his films since they actually went to theaters so I decided it was time to check one out. In Hell seemed like it had a good solid story, sounded interesting and it was comparable to other similar prison films I had seen and enjoyed. In Hell was really almost more of a gritty dark drama than an action film. The concept of the prison forcing the prisoners into death fighting seems like the perfect idea for an action flick but the fights are few and far between. The problem is without the constant action parts of the film come across as campy and cheesy. However, some of the parts in the prison are well done and appropriately disturbing but at the same time a little repetitive to other prison films.This is a bit of stretch for action star Jean Claude Van Damme. I think now that he is ageing he is looking for some depth to his characters. Kyle LeBlanc is not in jail unjustly. He did murder a man, the man that brutally killed his wife. He goes through a lot in prison and Van Damme does that best he can with his script but I do think a more seasoned dramatic actor could have really sunk their teeth into this. Lawrence Taylor plays the mysterious '451' who is some sort of strange violent poet that also narrates some of the moments in prison. Taylor and Van Damme have decent chemistry opposite each other and Taylor's character adds a nice twist to the story as well. David Leitch gives a very solid performance as the young naive Paul who is basically torn apart physically and emotionally by the prison and who Van Damme's character feels so but never bothers to help. The rest of the cast play their roles appropriately. The corrupt jail guards and warden and the various crazy characters from inside the prison but no one stands out beyond this main cast. Their characters fulfill their purpose but don't stick with you when its all done and said.I think Hong Kong director Ringo Lam is very talented. I saw one of his other straight to video films called Triangle that was actually a riveting mystery so he does know how to tell a story. In Hell wasn't exactly low budget at a 17 million dollar budget which does show in the money used for the setting and it was filmed in Bulgaria. If nothing else the prison makes a great and gritty dark disturbing location. I was only disappointed in the amount of action for what is considered an 'action film' and certain aspects of the film and characters were cheesy in comparison to some of the other solid parts of the film. It is still entertaining and well made and if you like a dark drama then check it out!! It certainly isn't your usual Jean Claude Van Damme flick. 7/10