Fire Down Below (1997)

11% of critics liked it
(27 reviews)
47% of users liked it
(29,776 ratings)

Martial arts star Steven Seagal stars in this action drama as Jack Taggart, an undercover agent working for the Environmental Protection Agency. When an EPA representative is murdered in a small Appalachian community, Taggart is sent in -- posing as a handyman working with a Christian relief agency… More Martial arts star Steven Seagal stars in this action drama as Jack Taggart, an undercover agent working for the Environmental Protection Agency. When an EPA representative is murdered in a small Appalachian community, Taggart is sent in -- posing as a handyman working with a Christian relief agency -- to find out what happened. Taggart discovers that Orin Hanner (Kris Kristofferson), a powerful local businessman, has been illegally dumping toxic waste which has been leading to serious health problems among children in the area; it seems that the murdered agent knew too much and was killed to keep him quiet, a scenario the unscrupulous Hanner would be all too willing to repeat. Taggart becomes involved with Sarah Kellogg (Marg Helgenberger), a woman whose father also died under circumstances that trace back to Hanner. Harry Dean Stanton co-stars as Cotton, former member of The Band Levon Helm plays a preacher, and country music stars Travis Tritt and Randy Travis appear as themselves. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Harry Dean Stanton
Written By: Jeb Stuart, Philip Morton
Genres: Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Sep 5, 1997 Wide
On DVD: Sep 4, 2001
Studio: Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
As a movie, it's a piece of drivel.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
By-the-book stuff, but that's what's expected whenever the name 'Steven Seagal' tops the marquee.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
There are movies that you know can't be any good, so they'd better be great. Fire Down Below ... achieves that grand level of absurdity.
Sean Means, Film.com
Seagal barely works up a sweat... He certainly doesn't work up any drama.
Tom Keogh, Film.com
One big self-distraction and nothing that vaguely resembles a real film.
Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser
The eco-hero who strikes fear in the heart of every polluting industrialist and sighs of pity in the heart of every fashion designer, Steven Seagal, takes his act to the backwoods of Kentucky
Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com
A real pleasant surprise with a less brash, more likable Seagal. Manages to show a genuine affection for the kind of rural folks elitist Hollywood usually ridicules.
Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
Fire Down Below is an action film that's deadly slow and stupid -- like most of the mountain people portrayed in the film.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
Marg Helgenberger plays Jack's love interest, the kind of tormented backwoodsy recluse Helen Reddy used to sing songs about. The stultifying aw-shucks courtship between the two is like a nightmarish version of 'The Bridges of Madison County'...
Liz Braun, Jam! Movies
Unless you're in the market for boredom, skip this one.

Read all 10 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Arash X

Is there a single worthwhile Seagal movie out there?
Derek D

If you can't stand country music like me, then you'll enjoy watching Seagal total wannabe fighters like Mark Collie. Unfortunately, Seagal tries to blend music and action and neither one works, much like the rest of this movie, despite it's above-average cast. I liked… More
If you can't stand country music like me, then you'll enjoy watching Seagal total wannabe fighters like Mark Collie. Unfortunately, Seagal tries to blend music and action and neither one works, much like the rest of this movie, despite it's above-average cast. I liked watching Seagal blow off half of Randy Travis' head, but that was the highlight of the film for me. Not a great movie.
Dean M

Steven Seagal goes after some nasty corporate types who are covertly dumping toxic waste in Kentucky's Appalachian hills while the locals suffer at their hands. It's the old save-the-ranch cowboy B-movie for mula with extra kicks.
danny d

i love this movie. this is one of my guilty pleasures. seagal movies arent "good", but they are at the same time good. this is one of his best.
Khris N

An eco-thriller for Segal Fans. Alright stuff.... the rattlesnake scenes were good - but the action is what counts.
Joseph E

This was most certianly the best Seagal film. Hanner SR: You're violating my constitutional rights. Jack Taggert: I will show you a new meaning to the word "violation".
Chad R

Haven't I told you I hate this cocksucker