Movie Review
ESCAPE FROM HELL
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Reviewed by: Ken James
STAFF WRITER
Excellent!
Moviemaking Quality:
starstar
Primary Audience:
Teen to Adult
Genre:
Christian Drama
Length:
1 hr. 16 min.
Year of Release:
2001
USA Release:
_____
Relevant Issues
Featuring: Dan Kruse, Emilie Jo Tisdale, Terry Jernigan, Paul Stober, Greg Provance, Lauren Edwards, Bob Lauro, Julie Jenny, Lori Stober
Director: _____
Producer: Danny Carrales
Distributor: DRC Productions

A recent poll shows that 35% of Americans 1 do not believe in Hell. Certainly death would seem more welcome to most if we simply cease to exist, or better yet we all go to heaven. With near-death experiences en vogue and a pervading relativistic worldview in our society, Escape From Hell comes at an opportune time.

Scene from 'Escape From Hell'
Opportune because the video's creator, award-winning DRC Productions of The Gathering and Final Exit, doesn’t conform to hip ideology. Instead, Escape brings us the story of one Dr. Eric Robinson who experiments with life after death and finds out almost too late the truth and reality about Hell.

So what would make a normally sane and competent medical doctor kill himself when life around him doesn’t seem all that bad? His beautiful colleague Dr. Marissa Holloway has been conducting research on near-death experiences. She interviews those who have had such experiences, both children and adults, and comes up with some conclusions. One particular subject, a blind Christian woman, is of particular interest because of the scenes she is able to describe even though she cannot physically see. Marissa also observes that people react to death differently: those who know Christ seem to die peacefully, while those who don’t are often very frightened. Is this what the Bible is referring to when it says “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (I Cor. 15:55) Eric wants to be a first-hand witness of such accounts and sets in motion an elaborate plan.


HELL:
Fact or Fiction?
Answer

More answers…
  • Am I good enough to go to Heaven? Go
  • Why was Hell made? Go
  • Is there anyone in Hell today? Go
  • Will there literally be a burning fire in Hell? Go
  • What should you be willing to do to stay out of Hell? Go
  • How can a God of love send anybody to Hell? Go
  • Why does God allow innocent people to suffer? Go
  • What if I don’t believe in Hell? Go
  • The Good News - How to be saved from Hell. Go
  • How do you know the Bible is true? Go
  • Are you a skeptic? Go
  • What is the being of light encountered in near-death experiences? Go
  • Dr. Robinson is a classic skeptic. He doesn’t believe in Hell, nor is he willing to place any faith in Jesus. Science is his god. While he is close to his mother, a born-again believer in Christ, Eric believes Christianity has nothing to offer him. Perhaps the most convincing display of how Christ can change lives is seen in his father who appears to try to make ammends from a past riddled by alcoholism and family abandonement. Eric's bitterness to his father can certainly be understood, and he is unwilling to forgive his father even though he tells his son about his changed life in Christ.

    Eric flatlines and finds himself journeying into eternity. He eventually ends up in a place of unspeakable torment where he comes across a former patient who was a “good man”. Now why is this churchgoing family man in Hell? that’s what Escape From Hell seeks to explain and does exceptionally well from a biblical perspective. It has already proven to be an effective evangelistic tool. Yet, I must be quick to point out this is not a story for children. There are some graphic scenes of hell that will definitely frighten younger viewers.

    Technically Christian retailers point out the elaborate special effects involved in Escape. Certainly there are many and this film could not be what it is without them. Unfortunately too many moviegoers today are used to big budget Hollywood-style eye candy and so may be unable to get over the lesser effects Escape brings. The acting is substandard in some areas as well, and the quality of the video feels more like a daytime television show than a blockbuster film. Yet we must remember that it is the gospel being preached here, and the Bible promises that “It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

      1. US News & World Report, January 31, 2000

    Viewer Comments

    Excellent movie, really makes you think about the lost souls that have no idea of what they are heading for and really makes you want to witness more. Would love to find more movies of this type to view and share.
    My Ratings: [Excellent! / 3]
    —Vickie, age 41

    This was a great movie that has moved all of my family and is a great movie to show all of your unsaved friends or family members. It opened my eyes as a Christian and showed me the reality of Hell and Heaven.
    My Ratings: [Excellent! / 4]
    —Diana, age 14

    …a great movie, a thriller, and masterfully produced…
    —Jack Van Impe

    …Four stars! If this doesn’t get a non-believer to think about life without Christ, nothing will…
    —Dr. Jerry Falwell