Hercules in the Underworld (1994 TV Movie) User Reviews (7)

"Hercules possessed a strength the world had never seen – a strength surpassed only by the power of his heart."

[utgard14 · 6/10 · 19 June 2014]

Hercules, now married to Deianeira (Tawny Kitaen) and father to three kids, is asked for help by a young woman (Marley Shelton) whose village is endangered by a portal to the underworld that has opened up there. Despite Deianeira's misgivings about Hercules leaving with the pretty blonde, he goes anyway. I don't want to spoil what happens next but the title of the movie should be a dead giveaway.

This is the fourth of the Kevin Sorbo Hercules TV movies. It takes place years after the last movie since Hercules and Deianeria are not only married here but have three children. Michael Hurst has two parts in this one but neither is Iolaus. He's sporting a black wig or dye job at the beginning in a brief scene and then later he's unrecognizable under makeup playing Charon. Old school wrestling fans might enjoy seeing Jorge Gonzalez (aka Giant Gonzalez/El Gigante) as a big brute Hercules is forced to fight twice. Cliff Curtis plays a centaur that tries to rape Deianeira. This was an early role for Marley Shelton. Anthony Quinn is good as always. An enjoyable TV movie, about on par with the other entries in the series. Less humor than usual, though.

Fun

[bensonmum2 · 7/10 · 22 May 2005]

• Of the first four Hercules movies that preceded the television series, this is easily my favorite. Hercules must save a town from an opening to Hades. Along the way, he faces several temptations and a slew of monsters. But that's not his greatest challenge. Deianeira has been killed and Hercules must find her while he's in Hades and bring her back to the land of the living.

• These Hercules movies aren't about great acting or deep plot lines. Don't watch them expecting Academy Award winning material. These movies are about having fun. And Hercules in the Underworld delivers fun. From Hercules' battle with the giant Eryz the Boxer to his taking on zombies in the underworld, it's pure eye-candy filled entertainment. The special effects are quite good given the limited television budget. It's easy to see Sam Raimi's (Executive Producer) influence on the special effects. Many of creatures, etc. are used by Raimi in his Evil Dead movies.

• Kevin Sorbo is the perfect television Hercules. He plays the character with tongue firmly in cheek. He's big enough to be believable and he's athletic enough to pull it off. The supporting cast is, for the most part, adequate enough in their roles. The exception is the most experienced actor of the bunch - Anthony Quinn. He just seems so out of place that I'm glad wasn't used in the regular series.

Herc is married with children??

[movieman_kev · 7/10 · 2 October 2005]

In this fourth made for TV movie that preceded the series, Hercules (Kevin Serbo) now married with children to Deianeira (Tawny Kitaen), is summoned once again by towns-person this time to beat a boxer. A while later, he goes on a quest with Iole, a maiden who supposedly steals men away from their wives, to save her people by going to Hades.. A jealous Deianeira when she can't dissuade for from his sense of duty, gives him a "cloak of Faithfulness" instead. There's more to it than that but I'm not about to spoil it, just now that the best parts of this one are in the first 10 minutes and the last 30 or so. This is my second favorite of the five that were made before the actual show (which was better than them all)

My Grade: B

A story of a time long ago...

[Op_Prime · 21 February 2000]

This was an excellent tv-movie. All the fighting scenes were great and well done. The story has action, adventure, some suspense and a little humor. Like in the series, people call Hercules for help. In this adventure, he goes to help the people of a village that are being threatened from a split in the Earth that reveals the mouth of hell. In between saving people, Hercules faces seduction, betrayal, saving his wife and capturing Cerberus. Excellent tv-movie.

Hercules goes to the Underworld!

[OllieSuave-007 · 8/10 · 9 October 2014]

This is the fourth pilot TV movie that jump-started the "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" TV series, where Hercules (Kevin Sorbo), now married with children, goes on a quest to save a village from an evil presence coming from underground, which turns out to be a portal to the Underworld.

The plot of the movie goes at a fast pace and is action-packed, full of Hercules vs. bad guys scenes and also full of adventures in a host of settings, including the plagued village, Hercules' home, the forests, Tarturus and the Elysian Fields. In addition to seeing the excitement of Hercules' unending adventures, there are also a nice touch of dramatic and heartfelt moments between Hercules and his family, mysterious suspense surrounding the cunning centaur and the unforgiving coldness of Hera's evil ways.

The New Zealand countryside setting is refreshing and the costumes are colorful and vibrantly done. The music score by Joseph LoDuca is very catchy and the acting is pretty spot-on, with a good dose of humor, though I don't quite get why Hades, God of the Underworld, is portrayed as a semi-geeky character wearing a white toga - not menacing or frightening at all!

Overall, it's another fun Hercules TV movie - good action and adventures!

Grade B

Excellent Adventure

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 10 September 2023]

Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) is happily married with two children and a baby with Deianeira (Tawny Kitaen), with the centaur Nessus (Cliff Curtis) working with him in his farm, and helping his neighbors from problems. Out of the blue, the beautiful Iole (Marlee Shelton), from a distant land, asks for help for her village that has a hole to the underworld that is killing the villagers. Hercules decides to travel with Iole to help her people and Nessus, who is a follower of Hera, poisons Deianeira with the beauty of Iole. When Nessus attacks Deianeira, Hercules kills him and he baths Deianeira's cloak with his blood and tells Deianeira to give her cloak to Hercules to keep him faithful to her. When Hercules wears her cloak, he goes haywire and dives in the hole to the underworld. When Deianeira learns what has happened to Hercules, she jumps off the cliffs and commits suicide. Now Hercules has to find a means to return with Deianeira from the world of the dead back to the world of the living.

"Hercules in the Underworld" is probably the best movie of this franchise, with a story full of action and plot points. The chemistry of Kevin Sorbo and Tawny Kitaen is amazing, and beauty of Marlee Shelton is impressive. The plot has many twists and the conclusion with a happy ending with Zeus is perfect for the plot. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Hércules no Mundo dos Mortos" ("Hercules in the World of the Dead")

A Captivating Mythological Adventure

[alexandroskarvounis · 10/10 · 6 July 2023]

Hercules in the Underworld takes viewers on a captivating journey through Greek mythology, as Kevin Sorbo reprises his role as the legendary hero Hercules. This thrilling film delves into the depths of the Underworld, delivering a suspenseful and action-packed adventure.

The movie's visual effects and production design create a vivid and immersive depiction of the Underworld, filled with dark and mystical landscapes. The storyline is gripping, as Hercules faces formidable challenges and battles against powerful adversaries. Sorbo's portrayal of Hercules continues to shine, showcasing his strength and determination in the face of danger.

Hercules in the Underworld is a worthy addition to the Hercules series, providing an engaging and entertaining escapade for fans of mythology and thrilling tales. With its suspenseful plot and dynamic action sequences, this film is a must-watch for those seeking an exciting mythological adventure.