Fire Down Below (1997)

Director:

Félix Enríquez Alcalá

Writers (WGA):

Jeb Stuart (story)
Jeb Stuart (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

5 September 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

One Man. One Sercet. One Chance in hell

Plot:

Environmental protection agent Jack Taggart is fighting big business types led by Orin Hanner who are...

Plot Keywords:

Toxic Waste | Snakes | Flashback Sequence | Father Son Relationship | Explosion

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Steven Seagal	...	Jack Taggart
Marg Helgenberger	...	Sarah Kellogg
Stephen Lang	...	Earl Kellogg
Brad Hunt	...	Orin Hanner Jr.
Kris Kristofferson	...	Orin Hanner Sr.
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Cotton Harry
Levon Helm	...	Reverend Bob Goodall
Mark Collie	...	Hatch
Alex Harvey	...	Sims
Ed Bruce	...	Sheriff Lloyd
Amelia Neighbors	...	Edie Carr
Richard Masur	...	Phil Pratt
Michael Krawic	...	FBI Agent #2
Clay Jeter	...	Walter Carr
Yvonne Pollard	...	Mrs. Carr

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

South Korea:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | USA:R (certificate #35350) | Netherlands:12 | Iceland:16 | Sweden:15 | Finland:K-18 (DVD version) | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | Germany:16 | Netherlands:16 (DVD rating) | Norway:15 (video premiere) | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | UK:18 (video premiere)

Filming Locations:

Agua Dulce Air Park - 33638 Agua Dulce Canyon Road, Agua Dulce, California, USA

Company:

Seagal/Nasso Productions

Trivia:

Just as production started on location in Kentucky, it emerged that a real EPA investigation was taking place nearby. Steven Seagal invited the EPA official to visit the set so he could chat with him about environmental issues and what he did.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Orin Hanner Sr. hits the cell phone with his golf club in the casino, he first lays the phone down on the floor on its back. When he hits the phone, it is on its side.

Quotes:

Jack Taggert: If your daddy knew exactly how stupid you were, he'd trade you in for a pet monkey.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in True Crime: Streets of LA (2003) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Kentucky Waltz

Seagal is simply an authority figure with a heart of purest gold...

Steven Seagal is one of those actors with a totally winning personality… He is simply an authority figure, a killing machine with a heart of purest gold… I can't help it; I like the guy.

In 'Fire Down Below,' he is an outsider posing as a church sponsored carpenter while he works for the Environmental Protection Agency to stop a greedy coal baron from dumping extremely large quantities of toxic wastes in abandoned coal mines… Those dangerous chemicals could destroy the drinking water for thousands of miles and kill a bunch of people around the hills… Seagal gallantly promised not to leave the small town until the poison from the air, the streams and the earth is taken out…

Many thugs (with snakes, sticks, guns, and big trucks) are hired by the uncaring mining magnate to get rid of our action hero but Seagal remains virtually untouched…

'Fire Down Below' highlights new environmental message but fails to come up with the expectations… First, Seagal's amorous interest with the sad country woman seems artificial, used in the film to grant the 'new visitor' easy access to statements he might need… Second, the motion picture lacks the best villain whose prowess could equals Seagal's... Steven's character never really faces much of a challenge… In fact, the fight scenes are too short and extremely fast and easy…

If you are a fan of country music and you want to see Seagal playing guitar and singing, and you like to explore sweeping vistas with glorious sunsets, don't miss this movie!