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Fire Down Below (1997 film)

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Fire Down Below
Theatrical release poster
Directed byFélix Enríquez Alcalá
Screenplay byJeb Stuart
Phillip Morton
Story byJeb Stuart
Produced byJulius R. Nasso
Steven Seagal
StarringSteven Seagal
Marg Helgenberger
Harry Dean Stanton
Stephen Lang
Brad Hunt
Levon Helm
Kris Kristofferson
CinematographyTom Houghton
Edited byRobert A. Ferretti
Music byNick Glennie-Smith
Production
company
Seagal-Nasso Productions
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
Release date
  • September 5, 1997 (1997-09-05)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryTemplate:Film US
LanguageEnglish
Budget$60 million
Box office$16,228,448[1]

Fire Down Below is a 1997 American action thriller film directed by Félix Enríquez Alcalá, starring Steven Seagal as an EPA agent who investigates a Kentucky mine and helps locals stand up for their rights; co-starring Marg Helgenberger, Kris Kristofferson, Harry Dean Stanton, and Stephen Lang, the film also includes cameos by country music performers Randy Travis, Mark Collie, Ed Bruce, Marty Stuart, and Travis Tritt, and country-rocker and The Band member Levon Helm.[2]

Plot

In the peaceful Appalachian hills of eastern Kentucky, toxins are being dumped into abandoned mines, causing environmental havoc, but the locals, mindful of their jobs and the power of the mine owners, can do nothing. Environmental Protection Agency CID agent Jack Taggert (Steven Seagal) is sent to investigate, after a fellow agent is found dead, probably not by accident. The EPA has received an anonymous letter from the town of Jackson, Kentucky, and Taggert goes there undercover to continue his colleague's investigations.

It is discovered that Hanner Coal Company, owned by Orin Hanner Sr. (Kris Kristoffersson), is being paid to dump toxic waste into an abandoned coal mine shaft, so Jack is assigned to go to the small town of Jackson, where his cover is that of assistant and volunteer carpenter to a local church. He stays in a room in the church's basement, and begins his cover work by repairing the roof at a house where one of the children is sick because of the pollution. He attempts to question the family, but they do not have much to say. He has little better results elsewhere; even the man who tipped off the EPA is decidedly taciturn. While testing the water, Taggert wanders into a local marijuana field, and is accosted by the growers. After disarming them, he tells them that he has no interest in arresting them.

The men responsible for the other agent's death soon notice Taggert's presence. As a newcomer to the small local community, he is threatened by Hanner's son Orin, Jr. (Brad Hunt), the incompetent local tool of the company, the corrupt local Sheriff Lloyd (Ed Bruce), and several thugs that work for them. The thugs in question start by leaving two rattlesnakes in his dwelling; Taggert responds by capturing the snakes alive and leaving them in the pickup that the thugs were driving, causing them to crash. Soon after, five of them attack him while he is buying supplies, and receive a severe beating as a result. Orin then orders one of his truck drivers to arrange an "accident" by running him off the road, but Taggert escapes alive while the driver is killed.

While these conflicts are occurring, Taggert strikes up a relationship with Sarah Kellogg (Marg Helgenberger), a young woman who lives in the town. She is regarded as an outcast because of her father's murder, a crime of which she was accused but not convicted. Eventually, she agrees to testify against Orin and his people, much to the anger of her brother Earl (Stephen Lang), who actually committed the crime. He sets the church on fire, killing the preacher who was helping Taggert in the process, and then attempts to collapse the mine with Taggert inside it. Taggert escapes, but several miners are killed, including Earl.

With evidence and a witness, Taggert calls the FBI to take Sarah into protective custody. However, they are revealed to be corrupt, and a firefight ensues. Taggert kills one agent, then sends the second back to Orin with a message that he'll be coming for him next. However, when Orin is arrested and charged, he gets off with a slap on the wrist for the environmental violations. Taggert goes back into the town and fights his way past the last of Orin, Jr's thugs, then demands the truth from him. Orin agrees to turn state's evidence, implicating his father on Racketeering, conspiracy, and murder charges. Taggert goes to Las Vegas to arrest Orin, Sr. Upon hearing about the reception awaiting him in federal prison, Orin produces a gun and resists, but Taggert shoots him in the shoulder and he is taken into custody. Taggert then returns to Jackson, where he is reunited with Sarah.

Cast

Production

The film was shot on location in and around Kentucky; parts of the "truck chase scene" were shot at Natural Bridge State Resort Park. Some of the opening scenes were filmed at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. The cave scenes were filmed in the Great Saltpetre Cave.[3] The exterior shots of the skyscraper serving as "corporate headquarters" were of PPG Place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1]. Some of the scenes were also shot in both Hazard, and Jackson, Kentucky

Reception

The film received negative reviews from critics (11% on Rotten Tomatoes[4]) and proved to be yet another financial failure and only grossed $6 million on its opening weekend. Although this is described as being more successful than On Deadly Ground, another one of Seagal's environmental efforts, it actually did not perform as well at the box office. The filmed grossed $16,228,448 domestically.[5]

Accolades

The film was nominated for four Razzie Awards:

References

  1. ^ Fire Down Below at Box Office Mojo
  2. ^ Seymour, Gene (1997-09-08). "Steven Seagal Foils Toxic Villains in 'Fire'". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
  3. ^ "Great Saltpetre Cave Articles and Documents". Rockcastle Karst Conservancy, Inc. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  4. ^ Fire Down Below at Rotten Tomatoes
  5. ^ "Fire Down Below (1997) - Box office / business". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2008-07-14.