Inferno

I have watched clips of this movie many times mainly owing to Tane Mcclure's erotic moments. But after 20 years, sometime tempted me to watch the entire film (speeding up the play many times ofcourse) Some of the shocks I faced:

1. Many of the scenes were shot at Egmore museum, Chennai. Didnt realise that they came so close to home in a film where one of my favourite erotic actress was in.

2. Madhavan was in the movie! Goddam. So it seems he was trying a make a living, before he became famous, long before the rocketery days.

And yeah, many scenes from Chennai. I'll watch out for any other films by Ashok Amirtaraj. Chances are he may have filmed something in the next street.

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.

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.

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?

This was a very fun 90's b action film by Don Wilson. Its a pretty standard revenge movie that is fairly predictable but it did enough to stand out that i ended up having a good time. It was interesting to see a movie like this take place and be filmed in India. It allowed for some unique characters and different setting then is the usual. The action is solid and there is a decent supporting cast that kept the movie fun. While the acting and dialogue were below average it plays to the silliness of the film. I had a good time and it's worth a watch if you like Don Wilson films as its one of his better ones.