It may be something of a character flaw, but I really like Steven Seagal movies.
Consistently, his films are suspenseful, somewhat funny, entertaining, and don’t require a lot of thought. Granted, the scripts tend to sound strangely similar to each other, the supporting parts are little more than screen fillers, and the action sequences are just a chance for Seagal to show off. But I like them anyway.
After “The Glimmer Man,” which was something (but not much) of a departure for the actor, Seagal returns in full form with “Fire Down Below.” Much like his “Under Seige” movies, his kick-some-bad-guy-butt-to-save-the-world approach comes off like a charming, low-budget version of James Bond.
In “Fire,” Seagal plays Jack Taggert, an EPA agent sent to the small town of Jackson, Kentucky to investigate a company that is burying toxic waste in the hills, threatening the health of the people and wildlife in the area. Even more important to Taggert, his best friend was killed trying to do the same thing.
To pursue the case without drawing too much attention to himself, he is housed by the local preacher and does carpentry for the locals in an effort to eventually acquire some trust. After he finds out that small town folk don’t chat very freely, he presses a little harder, and discovers that half the town, including the preacher himself, is being paid off by the mining company in question.
Soon, his presence, and his constant posing of questions, raises some suspicion with the locals. Some try to get rid of him but, in a Steven Seagal movie, that’s easier said than done.
A couple of low-level lackeys for the miners try to scare him by putting a snake in his room; he captures it and puts it back in their truck. A group of local toughs try to surround him and attack him; he fights them off with a two-by-four. The sheriff tries to arrest him; Taggert finally decides to blow his cover, threatening the official with an arrest of his own, and beating up the cop when he refuses to give in.
Even more aggressive, the head of the mining company (Kris Kristofferson) orders a hit on Taggert, only to fail just as badly as the smaller-scale efforts.
All the while, Taggert falls in love with Sara Kellogg (Marg Helgenberger), a local honey-maker ostracized by her neighbors because of a checkered past. This may seem like a cheesy addition to the story, but the alternate story line relieves some of the suspense, and adds to the intensity, of the rest of the plot.
There is one big problem, though: Taggert, successfully defending himself against a dozen attackers at a time, is supposedly an EPA agent. While don’t know this for sure, I doubt that most federal employees in that area are black belts in karate, expert street fighters, and amazingly accurate shots. Even so, it’s an easy mistake to forgive and forget.
The acting is really inconsequential. Seagal is just like he usually is: big, buff, and friendly, and the other characters are, like I said earlier, just a backdrop for the star. However, Kris Kristofferson is able to break the mold, and creates a wonderful demon out of his billionaire coal-mogul.
“Fire Down Below,” despite any prejudices - good or bad - about Steven Seagal, is a quality film, with top-notch suspense. If you’re up for a light-hearted fantasy-ish thriller, and “Kull the Conqueror” doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, this movie ought to be for you.
Grade: B+