Inferno

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.

"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?

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.

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.