Inferno

Picture this; Don "The Dragon" Wilson, mattress, cobra, bed sheets and a gun. Can you see it, well, director Fred Olen Ray delivers on that unbelievable image. Wilson plays an Interpol agent who ends up in India tracking down his partner's killer.

I haven't watched a lot of Wilson's films, but the quickie, low-rent "INFERNO" aka (OPERATION COBRA) is one of his better efforts. However it doesn't really have much to do with him, as he simply goes through the motions (robotically) when he's not high kicking people's faces. Watching an uncomfortable looking Wilson act, is just as awkward to watch. I'm sure there's more life and charisma stemming from his eyebrows alone. Across from him is the effortless Evan Lurie as the lethal, calmly spoken henchman. The final showdown between the two (which also involves a snake) is the best the action had to offer. This can be contributed to the spotty, lackluster choreography in most of the activity in the lead up to it. I can't say the same for Tana McClure's feisty performance, as things to do liven up when she's around. She even gets a standoff with the underused Jillian Kesner. Also making themselves known are Rick Hall and Michael Cavanaugh. Being that Olen Ray is behind the camera; in between the action are the customary, steamy soft-core sex scenes (and one of those including a water fountain and white dress).

He actually does a good job presenting the Indian locations and its local color, giving it another dimension, which the material lacks. Everything about the narrative plays out like an uninspired James Bond adventure, where it obviously steals its ideas. Even the lead is a lady magnet, just going by the out-of-nowhere "special" room service. What starts basic (buddy-buddy set-up), develops into silliness (McClure dressed up as an Indian woman) and the character's intentions do become a muddle. In the end, for entertainment, it does work out for the better.

On the surface 'Inferno' looks the part of your run-of-the-mill Don Wilson dtv cheapie. However dig deeper and you get quite a few recognizable faces, shot entirely in India and it looks a lot better than most b-movies I've watched lately. Maybe in due part because of cinematographer Gary Graver and the 1080p release it scored itself. Story wheeled out is standard and cliched, but has enough action and laughs (intentional or not) to pull off a mildly fun time.

Interpol agents Kyle Conners (Wilson) and Trevor (Rick Hill) close in on Davaad (Evan Lurie) just as he is about to complete an illicit deal. Unfortunately it goes sideways leaving Trevor dead while the target escapes. Placed on leave, Kyle then travels to India where Davaad has already set up shop hoping to avenge his partner. There he meets MI6 operative Callista (Tane McClure) who can lead him to Davaad, but only if he kills boss Grayson (Michael Cavanaugh) first.

Wilson was never an actor with great range, but does his physical fisticuffs here well. Tane gets to rip a spotty British accent and get naked twice. Lurie changes it up by being a soft spoken bad guy while Cavanaugh will always be Cpt. DeSoto (Star Trek: TNG) to me. Madhavan does a nice job as the local police inspector and Deepti Bhatnagar provides beauty as a mystery woman / love interest.

Most flicks from cheapo director Fred Olen Ray are crap, but he scored a b-winner here with 'Inferno'. Perhaps in large part due to the foreign flavor and not seeing LA for the millionth time. Of course the requisite martial arts, some female nudity and a plot twist within didn't hurt neither. If you find yourself searching for a 90's dtv actioner a little outside the norm this might be the ticket.

A surprisingly enjoyable combo from Don Wilson and Fred Olen Ray; a better one from both their resumes. This reminded me a lot of the mainstream Chris Hemsworth film EXTRACTION, with our hero tasked with going to India to take down some villains. Good scumbags for him to battle against and fun fights throughout, although a bit too much of the Playboy-style sex scenes.

"Operation Cobra" brings together several people long associated with cinematic schlock. Ashok Amritraj and Andrew Stevens were producers, Roger Corman was the executive producer, and Fred Olen Ray was the director! Needless to say, the budget is low, though since the movie was shot in India - which is a pretty cheap place to shoot a movie - the cheapness is less evident than usual. And the Indian locations do give the movie an exotic feel at times. Unfortunately, there's not much else positive I can say about this movie. The story is confusing at times, with information and key scenes seemingly missing at times. And the martial arts sequences are done in the typically boring American fashion - someone does a move, cut to another angle, another move is made, cut to another angle etc. But the movie's biggest flaw is that it's more often than not dull to watch. Even if you see this movie for free, chances are you'll feel ripped off at the end.

The fourth of nine films bearing the title INFERNO, most of which are straight-to-video or "Z" grade flopperoos.

Before watching this alleged martial-arts but in reality actionless no-brainer, you gotta ask yourself, what DOES director Fred Olen Ray have in common with compatriots Bill Carson, Sam Newfield, Roger Collins, Freddie Valentine, Nick Medina and the incomparable Ed Raymond? Give up? well you will be underwhelmed to discover that they are ALL the same person! Not a promising start! But there again these ARE the people responsible for the timeless classics DINOSAUR GIRLS, EVIL TOONS, THE BRAIN LEECHES and who can forget BAD GIRLS FOR MARS?

So armed with this knowledge (and I was deprived of this vital information on my first viewing) you can sit back and watch Olen-Ray's INFERNO. Don "The Dragon" Wilson "stars" (I use the term loosely) as Connors - our chop-sockey hero who seems more adept with guns and wigs than anything else. Actors appear in different roles, none of which matter, they are so stupefyingly amateurish.

Why the hell am I reviewing this trash?