Escape from Hell poster

Escape from Hell

"The Warden's Just Handed Down A Stiff Sentence!"

Movie 1980 1h 33m 4.7 /10
Directed by Edoardo Mulargia

A remote women's prison camp sits deep in a tropical rainforest where cruelty is part of daily routine. Harsh guards and an especially brutal warden enforce rules with violent punishments, and the inmates endure increasingly unbearable conditions. The camp doctor, appalled by what he witnesses,... Read more

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Streaming availability last verified: January 17, 2026

About Escape from Hell

A remote women's prison camp sits deep in a tropical rainforest where cruelty is part of daily routine. Harsh guards and an especially brutal warden enforce rules with violent punishments, and the inmates endure increasingly unbearable conditions. The camp doctor, appalled by what he witnesses, turns to alcohol to numb his conscience. Tensions rise as the prisoners bond and plan to resist, looking to the doctor for help in a risky bid for freedom. The story follows their escalating desperation and the narrow, dangerous options they consider as they try to slip away from the camp without giving anything away about how it ends.

Released in 1980, Escape from Hell was directed by Edoardo Mulargia and credits Sergio Chiusi, Roberto Estévez, and Leslie Daniels among its creators. The cast includes Anthony Steffen, Ajita Wilson, Cristina Lay, Cintia Lodetti, and Luciano Pigozzi, and the film reflects the era's low-budget Italian exploitation production style.

Box office records for Escape from Hell are scarce, and it didn't register as a mainstream commercial hit. The film likely saw limited theatrical runs and later circulation in home video and grindhouse venues, but no reliable worldwide gross is available.

Among fans of exploitation and women-in-prison cinema the film has a certain notoriety for its bleak setting and blunt depictions of cruelty. It surfaces occasionally in discussions of obscure Italian genre movies from the late 1970s and early 1980s, and viewers who collect rougher, fringe titles often point to it when mapping the era's grimmer offerings.

Critical response has been mixed to negative, reflected in a modest user rating around 4.6 out of 10 on niche databases. Viewers note its straightforward plotting, unflinching depiction of institutional abuse, and a lead role that highlights moral compromise and alcoholism. The film is best approached by those interested in exploitation history rather than mainstream thriller audiences.

Details

Release Date
March 27, 1980
Runtime
1h 33m
User Ratings
26 votes
Type
Movie
Genres
Adventure, Crime, Thriller
Country
Italy
Studio
SNPC - Società Nazionale Produzioni Cinematografiche +1 more
External Links
View on IMDB

Cast

Anthony Steffen

Anthony Steffen

Doctor Farrell

Ajita Wilson

Ajita Wilson

Zaira

Cristina Lay

Cristina Lay

Vivienne

Cintia Lodetti

Cintia Lodetti

Katie

Luciano Pigozzi

Luciano Pigozzi

The Warden

Serafino Profumo

Serafino Profumo

Martinez

Gilberto Galimberti

Gilberto Galimberti

Luis

M

Maite Nicote

Mary

Y

Yael Forti

Marika

Zaira Zoccheddu

Zaira Zoccheddu

Lucy

Director: Edoardo Mulargia

Written by: Sergio Chiusi, Roberto Estévez, Leslie Daniels

Frequently Asked Questions

Escape from Hell is not currently available to stream, rent, or buy online in the US. Check back later for updates.

With a rating of 4.7/10 from 26 viewers, Escape from Hell is a mixed bag - check out reviews to see if it's right for you.

A remote women's prison camp sits deep in a tropical rainforest where cruelty is part of daily routine. Harsh guards and an especially brutal warden enforce rules with violent punishments, and the inmates endure increasingly unbearable conditions. The camp doctor, appalled by what he witnesses, t...

Escape from Hell stars Anthony Steffen, Ajita Wilson, Cristina Lay, Cintia Lodetti, and Luciano Pigozzi.

Escape from Hell was directed by Edoardo Mulargia.

Escape from Hell was released on March 27, 1980.

Escape from Hell is a Adventure, Crime, and Thriller film.

No, Escape from Hell is a fictional 1980 adventure crime thriller about a women's prison camp set in a tropical rainforest.

Anthony Steffen plays Doctor Farrell, the camp doctor who becomes horrified by the abuse, turns to heavy drinking, and ultimately helps the inmates in their escape attempt.

Ajita Wilson plays Zaira. She's listed among the main cast as one of the women in the prison camp and is involved in the inmates' efforts to escape.

The film features sadistic guards, a cruel warden, and savage punishments, so it contains strong violence and adult themes and is not suitable for children.