Fire Down Below

Fire Down Below (1997)

Beneath a land of wealth and beauty hides a secret that could kill millions. Undercover has never run so deep.

When an EPA representative is murdered in a small Appalachian community, EPA undercover agent Jack Taggart is sent in—posing as a handyman working with a Christian relief agency—to determine what happened.

Date of release
1997-09-05
TMDB
5.7 / 10 (410)
Runtime
1h 44m
Genres
Action, Thriller
Director
Félix Alcalá

Casting

Interesting facts

  • Filmed in: Pittsburgh

Fire Down Below is a 1997 American action film directed by Félix Enríquez Alcalá in his directorial debut. The film stars Steven Seagal as Jack Taggert, an EPA agent who investigates a Kentucky mine and helps locals stand up for their rights, and also includes cameos by country music performers Randy Travis, Mark Collie, Ed Bruce, Marty Stuart and Travis Tritt as well as country-rocker and the Band member Levon Helm, along with Kris Kristofferson appearing in a supporting role. The film was released in the United States on September 5, 1997, to critical and commercial failure.

Production

In December 1989, it was reported producers Peter Guber and Jon Peters, after establishing themselves at Columbia Pictures following leaving Warner Bros. Pictures, had acquired Fire Down Below along with several other scripts after being forced to abandoned their slate of in development projects at Warner Bros.

In March 1993, it was reported that Steven Seagal had entered into a deal with Columbia to star in Fire Down Below one week after Warner Bros. delayed filming on his directorial debut Rainbow Warrior (later released as On Deadly Ground) after executives became concerned about the film's budget. Warner Bros.

In December 1993, it was reported that Jon Peters contract with Columbia was set to expire at the end of 1994 while Peters former partner Peter Guber signed a five-year contract to become chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment with speculation that Peters' development slate would be taken elsewhere including Fire Down Below for which Seagal had a pay or play deal. In March 1994, it was reported that Jon Peters would be returning to Warner Bros.

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. This was the third, and final time that Kane Hodder worked with Steven Seagal as a stuntman.

Seagal liked the film in part because it was "kind of an environmental movie." He also enjoyed working with Marg Helgenberger. "While I don't think she's a physical, spectacular, drop dead gorgeous woman, at the same time she's a spectacular actress," said Seagal. "Her performance was wonderful."

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