In Hell (2003)

59% of users liked it
(8,166 ratings)

When Kyle LeBlanc (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is prosecuted for killing the man who murdered his wife, he is sent to the most notoriously violent prison in Eastern Europe, where brutality is an understatement. Guards force the prisoners into death matches for their own personal profit, and the already… More When Kyle LeBlanc (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is prosecuted for killing the man who murdered his wife, he is sent to the most notoriously violent prison in Eastern Europe, where brutality is an understatement. Guards force the prisoners into death matches for their own personal profit, and the already violent inmates are provoked until they're barely recognizable as human beings. Though Kyle initially holds nothing but contempt for his fellow cell mates, it isn't long before their rage takes root in his own mind. When it's his turn to fight, channeling that rage may be the only chance he has at survival. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Ringo Lam
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Nov 25, 2003
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily
If you're a sucker for prison movies like I am, you might just enjoy this surprisingly decent direct-to-DVD Van Damme title.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
As long as movies are not required to play theatrically before hitting the DVD shelves, we'll have plenty of new Van Damme flicks to make fun of.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
Why do filmmakers keep making the same movies again and again? Don't they think people notice?
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...another bloody, run-of-the-mill action yawner.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
A slipshod, boring, foreign production... There's little story, some woeful dialogue, and not even the production values are deserving of praise

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Al S

An intense, compelling, savage and brutal thriller. A hard-core mixture of hard-hitting action and harsh character drama that hits the core. Jean-Claude Van Damme is strong, confident and very compelling. A shocker of a thrill-ride that has more substance than expected. A… More
An intense, compelling, savage and brutal thriller. A hard-core mixture of hard-hitting action and harsh character drama that hits the core. Jean-Claude Van Damme is strong, confident and very compelling. A shocker of a thrill-ride that has more substance than expected. A heart-pounding and action-packed film. One of Van Damme`s best roles and one of his best films ever.
Jani H

"Don't let them do you into something you're not..." Van Damme. He is such a great actor... I long for the times, basically the 90's, when we the viewers were given such "classics" as 'Kickboxer', 'Bloodsport', 'Cyborg'… More
"Don't let them do you into something you're not..." Van Damme. He is such a great actor... I long for the times, basically the 90's, when we the viewers were given such "classics" as 'Kickboxer', 'Bloodsport', 'Cyborg' and 'Universal Soldier'. Since those movies, all we've got is crap after crap. 'In Hell' is no exception... Damme plays a good guy who gets his wife murdered. He does the obvious thing any man would do and kills the guy. Gets sentenced in prison were he loses himself... Only to be found again. During the film. Damme looked like a "normal" guy, then when he was really down, he looked like a drunken Jesus and when he was a crazy son of a bitch, he looked like an Italian gigolo.. Sounds funny and was funny. 'In Hell' was, yet again, another failure by Damme. The film has no interesting story to be told, bad acting and action scenes that aren't anything special. I didn't know what to think about the characters. There was this one guy who was a crazy killer who was a bit too philosophical. Nothing but a comedic figure... Nothing special here. For those who still like to remember Damme as an action star from the 90's, stick to the films I mentioned in the beginning. Although, I'd like to see 'JCVD' which is out now. Here he tried to act... once again, but in 'JCVD', I heard that he is just himself.
Dean M

Hell of fight scenes and Van Damme's the best by fighting his way out of prison in this brutal thriller.
Marcus W

What is it about prison movies that bring out the best in a writer? This manages to be slightly better than "JCVD goes to prison and fights for his life". Granted, it's not Fellini, but what do you expect?
Barry L

Actually a great film and well acted by all
Christopher B

I'm shocked. It's a really good Van Damme film. If you like prison films at all this one's a winner.