Today’s Prayer Focus
MOVIE REVIEW

Escape from Hell

Reviewed by: Ken James
STAFF WRITER

Moral Rating: Excellent!
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Adults Young-Adults Teens
Genre: Christian Drama
Length: 1 hr. 16 min.
Year of Release: 2000
USA Release:
Box art for “Escape from Hell”
Relevant Issues
Scene from Escape From Hell

Is there an actual place called “Hell”? Answer

Why was Hell made? Answer

Is there anyone in Hell today? Answer

Will there literally be a burning fire in Hell? Answer

What should you be willing to do to stay out of Hell? Answer

How can a God of love send anybody to Hell? Answer

What if I don’t believe in Hell? Answer

The Good News—How to be saved from Hell. Answer

Is Jesus Christ the answer to your questions?
Discover the good news that Jesus Christ offers
Paradise or Pain? Why is the world the way it is?
Why is the world the way it is? If God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and loving, would He really create a world like this? (filled with oppression, suffering, death and cruelty) Answer
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Are you going to Heaven?
Are you going to Heaven? Are you SURE you know the answer this extremely important question? Or have you made some common wrong assumptions? Find out now!

Are you good enough to get to Heaven? Answer

How good is good enough? Answer

Will all mankind eventually be saved? Answer


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Featuring Daniel Kruse (Dr. Eric Robinson), Emilie Jo Tisdale (Dr. Marissa Holloway), Terry Jernigan (Dr. Carl Burke), Paul Stober (Tad Garrison), Greg Provance (Tommy), Lauren Edwards (Lauren Garrison), Bob Lauro (Father), Julie Jenny (Mother), Lori Stober (Rachel Garrison), Don Brooks (Reverend Lattimer), See all »
Director Danny R. Carrales
Producer DRC Productions, Danny R. Carrales, Terra Schock, Randy Smith
Distributor DRC Productions

“You will believe.”

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.

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.

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 amends from a past riddled by alcoholism and family abandonment. 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 proved 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 and World Report, January 31, 2000


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Positive
Positive—I write to commend you for your review about Dr. Eric Robinson in “Escape From Hell”. My church’s mission team is using it, and it’s making impact in lives, especially that of students in Ghana (wherever we visit). …
My Ratings: Moral rating: Excellent! / Moviemaking quality: 3
Josiah Aduko, age 36 (Ghana)
Positive—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
Positive—…a great movie, a thriller, and masterfully produced…
Jack Van Impe
Positive—…Four stars! If this doesn’t get a non-believer to think about life without Christ, nothing will…
Dr. Jerry Falwell
Comments from young people
Positive—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