To Hell...
- Episode aired May 20, 2009
- TV-14
- 43m
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
2.4K
YOUR RATING
The team head to Canada to investigate the disappearances of a number of homeless people, drug users and sex workers and uncover something horrific.The team head to Canada to investigate the disappearances of a number of homeless people, drug users and sex workers and uncover something horrific.The team head to Canada to investigate the disappearances of a number of homeless people, drug users and sex workers and uncover something horrific.
Krys Marshall
- Vicki
- (as a different name)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaCanada's federal police force is the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or RCMP. The province of Ontario also has a provincial force the Ontario Provincial Police or OPP. Both of these organizations can be seen at the farm.
- GoofsDetroit has had an FBI field office since 1924, and has many Resident Agencies (satellite offices in smaller cities), including (at one time, at least) Port Huron. These offices are ignored and treated as if they don't exist.
- Quotes
Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner: [opening quotation, voiceover] Flannery O'Connor said "If there were no hell, we would be like the animals. No hell, no dignity."
- ConnectionsReferences The Wizard of Oz (1939)
- SoundtracksChip Away
Written by Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins, Chris Chaney and Robert Ezrin
Performed by Jane's Addiction
Featured review
Solid finale if not for the faint-hearted
On first viewing, not much about "To Hell and Back" leapt out at me, other than the character of Lucas, the shock value of the pigs and the cliff-hanger ending.
Having just recently re-watched the episode, there was much more to appreciate on this viewing with the case more than engrossing enough to distract me from things that "To Hell and Back" has been criticised for like geographical inaccuracy and disrespectful representation of the Canadian police force. For a 'Criminal Minds' episode, although it does overall share similarities with the real-life Pickton murders and the film 'Hannibal', "To Hell and Back" certainly stands out and it would be hard not to forget it.
Compared to first viewing, criticisms are few. As somebody who doubted Hightower's guilt very early on, it did take a little too long somewhat for the episode to establish that. The episode has also been criticised for being gratuitously gross, mostly the harrowing and brutal atmosphere was handled incredibly well and was very scary and disturbing but for me "To Hell and Back" did go a bit too far with the pigs. We got the point very quickly so well before the end of the first part, while frightening and leaving one feel unsettled, one did wish that they weren't used so much and so in your face.
Flaws aside, as always, the production values are very atmospheric and stylish, and the music suitably moody. The script is tight and thought-provoking, also with surprising complexity, like with Hightower's dedication to his sister and the lengths he'd go through, the rapport between Kelly and Lucas, that between Rossi and Mason, Prentiss' dry lines, the poignant prospect of homeless people being tracked down being impossible and the twist with Mason was unexpected.
While not one hundred percent perfect, the storytelling is very engrossing and gets better and better, the few issues were in the first half whereas the second was excellent. The episode is not for the faint-hearted but a vast majority of the time the shock value was harrowing and chilling without being excessive or over-the-top, only with the pigs in the first half did it come close. The discoveries on the farm will wrench the gut and bring tears to the eyes, while the climax is nail-biting suspense and the cliff-hanger ending is just another big and very well executed surprise in an episode full of them.
The characters of Mason and Lucas are very well written, one really feels sorry for Lucas while being repulsed by the much more deranged Mason, despite him not being physically able. One also feels sorry for Hightower and understands his point of view, while Kelly is a victim that is likable and easy to root for due to her compassion, which seems genuine, and also her feistiness and the strength and courage she shows in order to stay alive. The BAU still work wonders together and are interesting individually.
Acting is very good throughout, with Paul Rae particularly astounding as Lucas, a "human monster" sort of character, though it's Mason who's the monster through and through.
In conclusion, not one of Season 4's best episodes (one of the best 'Criminal Minds' seasons with so many good episodes, with "Demonology" and "Catching Out" being two of very few disappointments), but a solid finale if not for all tastes. 8/10 Bethany Cox
Having just recently re-watched the episode, there was much more to appreciate on this viewing with the case more than engrossing enough to distract me from things that "To Hell and Back" has been criticised for like geographical inaccuracy and disrespectful representation of the Canadian police force. For a 'Criminal Minds' episode, although it does overall share similarities with the real-life Pickton murders and the film 'Hannibal', "To Hell and Back" certainly stands out and it would be hard not to forget it.
Compared to first viewing, criticisms are few. As somebody who doubted Hightower's guilt very early on, it did take a little too long somewhat for the episode to establish that. The episode has also been criticised for being gratuitously gross, mostly the harrowing and brutal atmosphere was handled incredibly well and was very scary and disturbing but for me "To Hell and Back" did go a bit too far with the pigs. We got the point very quickly so well before the end of the first part, while frightening and leaving one feel unsettled, one did wish that they weren't used so much and so in your face.
Flaws aside, as always, the production values are very atmospheric and stylish, and the music suitably moody. The script is tight and thought-provoking, also with surprising complexity, like with Hightower's dedication to his sister and the lengths he'd go through, the rapport between Kelly and Lucas, that between Rossi and Mason, Prentiss' dry lines, the poignant prospect of homeless people being tracked down being impossible and the twist with Mason was unexpected.
While not one hundred percent perfect, the storytelling is very engrossing and gets better and better, the few issues were in the first half whereas the second was excellent. The episode is not for the faint-hearted but a vast majority of the time the shock value was harrowing and chilling without being excessive or over-the-top, only with the pigs in the first half did it come close. The discoveries on the farm will wrench the gut and bring tears to the eyes, while the climax is nail-biting suspense and the cliff-hanger ending is just another big and very well executed surprise in an episode full of them.
The characters of Mason and Lucas are very well written, one really feels sorry for Lucas while being repulsed by the much more deranged Mason, despite him not being physically able. One also feels sorry for Hightower and understands his point of view, while Kelly is a victim that is likable and easy to root for due to her compassion, which seems genuine, and also her feistiness and the strength and courage she shows in order to stay alive. The BAU still work wonders together and are interesting individually.
Acting is very good throughout, with Paul Rae particularly astounding as Lucas, a "human monster" sort of character, though it's Mason who's the monster through and through.
In conclusion, not one of Season 4's best episodes (one of the best 'Criminal Minds' seasons with so many good episodes, with "Demonology" and "Catching Out" being two of very few disappointments), but a solid finale if not for all tastes. 8/10 Bethany Cox
helpful•93
- TheLittleSongbird
- Nov 30, 2016
Details
- Runtime43 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.78 : 1
- 16:9 HD
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