The Other Side of Hell

Well, as I have stated... if you are reading this you probably have seen this movie, if you haven't and are still reading, I very well may give away plot points... this shouldn't matter too much as it took the bulk of my life to actually find a copy of the darn thing. So if you wanted to view this movie... You honestly can't unless you REALLY try.

To start, it takes place in a mental institution that is more like a prison than a hospital. The main character, Frank Dole, is committed there hoping to receive medical help... He doesn't. He witnesses another patient (inmate) getting beaten to death, and decides he must escape. Befriending Jim Baker, another inmate who plead insanity at his wife's murder trial, the two try and escape. They fail... But Frank eventually manages to escape with the details of the Hospital's brutality.

There is so much story to go around in this movie, that I can't even begin to delve into it all... Some of my favorite parts include Frank collecting keys he finds; hoping one day to unlock the right door, Jim's involvement with the prison cock fights, and Johnson's insane brutality.

Characters are developed extremely well, and you truly feel for them. At least I did.

Should you ever find a copy of this movie, and you haven't seen it... if you like a good drama, give it a try. I saw it on HBO in 1988 or so, and eventually found somebody who had a video copy of it. It was never released on video, and hardly is shown on TV...

This is one of my top ten favorite movies of all time.

Never heard of this great movie, no doubt as it was a tv movie. Very long film but doesn't feel it, a great thoughtful watch. Not sure if title refers to what's playing out in his mind and then he enters a new kind of hell in institution. Very little humour but engrossing all the way. Arkin keeps u watching, one nudge away from going over the edge himself. I liked the warmth he shows other inmates at times, everyone deserves respect no matter how far gone they are. I've never understood why people are mean or brutal like this, but sadly it still goes on. Heads up for Magnum alum TJ I think, nice to see him. Glad I found this, big fan of prison type films. Highly recommend this movie. One little thing I found a bit fake, shoe-shining scenes looked very unreal, actors clearly not landing blows, but it was made for tv. A bit of a hidden gem all told.

Just making a point - the hospital mentioned in other reviews and about which Wendell Rawls Jr. wrote is Farview, not Fairview.

This hospital is still in existence today though it is no longer known as Farview (except for us locals who will always call it that.) It is SCI Waymart.

There appears to be some controversy over whether this film was about Farview or some other mental hospital. I wish someone could clear it up.

I drive by Farview often. It is a creepy looking place now - I can't imagine how ominous and awful it must have looked 40 or 50 years ago when these atrocities were still going on.

I personally knew Bill Thomas, he used to manage my group in the early 90's. He was a fantastically intelligent and sensitive man. This is absolutely a true story, based on real facts and with very little of the plot points changed. Bill would often recount little snippets, details that occurred while he was in the institution. They were both horrific and fascinating, it is difficult to believe that this kind of treatment was actually perpetrated on patients in such places during the 20th century. Both the "Shoe Leather Treatment" and "The Other Side Of Hell" are amazing examples of our ability as humans being to survive and persevere. Bill, I miss ya'. Kurt

Imagine a darker, bleaker variation on One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and you have The Other Side of Hell. Both films are well-made and powerful, but sadly this one has faded into obscurity, never released on home video or streaming. As of this writing, I had to watch the film on YouTube in poor quality, though even then, the impact of the performances and story shine through.

While there's nothing graphic in the film, the atrocities depicted are still harrowing for the viewer, and Alan Arkin gives one of his best performances as the disturbed but persevering Frank Dole. Though long and rarely cheery, the story never drags and is well-paced. Given the poor quality of the recording I saw, I cannot judge the cinematography too much. I can only imagine how much more impact-ful this movie would be with clearer picture and sound.

The film deserves more attention and a decent release so more people can watch it.