Van Damme's latest effort on paper reads much like many other films he has done, in which he finds himself in a situation when he must participate in illegally set up fights. This film being set in prison is also particularly similar to Death Warrant. These are really where the similarities end because this is more dramatic and less flashy than those. There are no sweeping Van Damme kicks played in glorious slow motion, he doesn't seem invincible and is not able to summon great amounts of strength to down 7ft behemoths in one punch, in this film he is an ordinary guy. If he fights someone who looks like they could take him, then he will have a tough time, and get beat up.

This film allows JC to play a character with some depth and some emotion, a character who we sympathise with in the way his wife's death effects him. He kills his wife's murderer when he is let free and so goes to jail and we see the way in which his character goes on a downward spiral without his wife. While this film attempts to have a sympathetic character it has such a hackneyed script, full of clichés that it ends having ultimately wasted one of Van Damme's best performances and some classy direction from Ringo Lam. He is a grade above other b-movie directors and this film looks great, he worked with a good cinematographer and editor to make this look well beyond its 15 million or so budget.

There isn't a single surprise in the film and many of the supporting cast are bad but the better actors all produce some good moments. You feel for certain characters, it is a shame that the majority of the crew and cast aren't matches for the more talented members, however it does allow JC to stand out.

The fights are not about being flash they are rough and ready and pack a punch, and are superbly edited. It makes a change for Van Damme but far more watchable than other films like Nowhere to Run which showed no flashy martial arts. The fighting in this is more like proper wrestling.

As with many low budget movies there are problems with the special effects, such as dodgy CGI airplanes and a poor synth score. In the end though the film was an enjoyable watch while not great it featured quality in the direction and with a decent performance by Van Dammes standards, were not talking Academy awards by any means but possibly a Video Premiere award nomination. ***

Fine flick with more than a semblance of an enjoyable and entertaining story without being excessively cerebral , including thrills , chills, spectacular fighting , mayhem and prison revolts . In spite of its violence, and adding some wholly as well as corny moments , this is an acceptable yarn with interesting storyline enhanced by the romantic relationship between Van Damme and wife depicted by means of flashbacks with full of feeling touches and freshness . Jean Claude Van Damme is pretty well as a brave and two-fisted hero , an American working overseas in Russia named Kyle LeBlanc showing his gentle/tough side and who learns his wife has been attacked , as he rushes home to find that he's too late. But the murderer who killed his wife (Marnie Alton) is found not guilty on lack of evidence , so Kyle takes the law into his own hands . He is sentenced to life in prison without parole . Kyle must survive a dangerous prison where hardened killers battle to the death for the wardens' entertainment . As he attempts his freedom by illegal fighting , then his rage unleashed . Kyle begins to break and go insane, so he is forced into these fights because of the wardens know he is a champion and a sure thing . He must confront brutal criminals and their cruel prison chief , General Hruschov (Lloyd Battista) . Meantime, Kyle's cellmate 451 (Lawrence Taylor) starts to make him think what he struggles for . Eventually , Kyle thanks to 451 , learns he must fight another battle : the fight to find redemption and for his own inner peace . It is the only way he can become the man he once was .

This violent film contains thriller , suspense , action , tension and spectacular/well choreographed fights . Entertaining movie , thanks to tight pace , skillful edition and well mounted combats . It's tense and exciting , at time glossy enough action movie and the breathtaking struggles and combats are well done . Depicting the hard and violent conditions of a Russian prison in which our starring is sent and where the wardens amuse themselves by putting on fights and filling their pockets with money by betting on the bloody combats . Jean Claude is nice in this middling budget picture as a valiant hero who killed the man to avenge his wife's death . Support cast is attractive , such as : Lawrence Taylor as the philosophic and strange inmate 451 , Lloyd Battista as ruthless General Hruschov , Carlos Gómez as Tolik and Marnie Alton as gorgeous wife . Furthermore , two secondary actors regular in prison and action thrillers : Robert LaSardo and Juan Fernandez , both of whom use to play violent prisoners , killers panderers and other mobsters .

Appropriate musical score fitting to action movie , as well as atmospheric cinematography by cameraman John Aronson . The motion picture was professionally directed by Ringo Lam . In 2015 , Hong Kong director Ringo Lam received the Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award at the 14th New York Asian Film Festival. He was a craftsman who made a trilogy for Van Damme : Maximum Risk , Replicant and In Hell . His film City on Fire (1987) was the inspiration for the plot and some of the scenes in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs (1992) . Ringo was a a nice Chinese director who recently passed away , and filmmaker for Jackie Chan : Double dragon . And was hired in US for Jean Claude Van Damme vehicles . He also directed ¨On fire¨ trilogy : the first is titled ¨City on fire¨ , the second titled ¨Prison on fire¨ and the third titled ¨ Prison on fire 2¨. Pointlessly energetic and excessively violent , this In Hell (2003) will appeal the true devotee of main actor . It's a must see for Van Damme fans . Rating : 6/10 . Decent prison movie .

Van Damme is an actor who has made some rubbish films in his time, it really has to be said. UNIVERSAL SOLDIER: THE RETURN was abysmal, THE ORDER was also appalling, and DOUBLE TEAM wasn't much better. Thankfully, IN HELL shows us a Van Damme who is back on track, teamed once more with the winning director Ringo Lam in an atypical drama movie which engages the senses and is a thoroughly enjoyable film experience despite the gruelling subject matter.

Yes, it's a prison movie, with all of the expected clichés and references to the likes of LOCK UP, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, THE GREEN MILE, and DEATH WARRANT. However, this is an utterly serious film, expect no comedy, and it goes through some of the darkest subject matter that is filmable: graphic male and female rape, ultra violent street fights (complete with torn jugulars and blood fountaining all over) and horrendous living conditions – once we see Van Damme literally bathing in a pool of urine.

The dialogue is surprisingly good in places, and the jumble of sub-plots, ideas, themes, and action makes it really watchable – you never really know what's going to happen next. The action is hard knuckle and exciting, with really despicable villains, and there is at least one emotional moment that had me on the edge of my seat. Van Damme is a decent actor now and he carries the complex leading role very well indeed, so no complaints there either. If you enjoy prison flicks, you'll love this no-holds-barred shocker just as much as I did.