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Inferno (1999 film)

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Inferno
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJohn G. Avildsen
Screenplay byTom O'Rourke
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyRoss A. Maehl
Edited byJ. Douglas Seelig
Music byBill Conti
Distributed byColumbia TriStar Home Video
Release date
  • September 25, 1999 (1999-9-25)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Inferno (alternatively known as Desert Heat)[1] is a 1999 American action film directed by John G. Avildsen, and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Danny Trejo, Pat Morita, Gabrielle Fitzpatrick, and David "Shark" Fralick. This was the last film directed by Avildsen before his death in 2017.[2][3]

The plot revolves around Eddie Lomax (Van Damme), who is a veteran soldier sick of life, wandering the desert looking for a reason to die. An incident with a few thugs from the nearby town, who steal Eddie's motorbike and beat him almost to death, sets him on a path of revenge. The film is loosely based on the 1961 Japanese samurai film Yojimbo by Akira Kurosawa.[4][5]

Plot

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Eddie Lomax (Jean Claude Van Damme) rides an Indian motorcycle in salt flat. When his bike breaks down, he begins drinking and passes out. When he awakes, he sees his old friend from the Army, Johnny Sixtos (Danny Trejo). Eddie tells Johnny he is haunted by dreams of atrocities they committed in the Army, and intends to kill himself after giving Johnny his Indian motorcycle. However, Eddie begins shooting rounds randomly, and one hits a passing truck. Three brothers stop and begin harassing Eddie, and Johnny disappears. They beat and shoot Eddie, leaving the youngest brother Petey to execute him, and steal his bike.

Johnny reappears and carries Eddie to his home, where he nurses him back to health. Once recovered, Eddie sets of to avenge himself and retrieve the motorcycle. In town, he finds his gun has been sold to a local store. Eddie kills the two men inside when they attack him, and free their uncle whom they had been keeping prisoner in a back room. Uncle Eli supplies Eddie with guns and ammunition. Eddie then goes to the local diner, where he meets Rhonda, another friend of Johnny's. There he learns the identity of the three men who attacked him, and employs diner regular Jubal Early to clean up the bodies of the men he killed at Eli's.

After learning from Eli and Jubal that the Hogan brothers (the men who attacked him) work with a local gang called the Heathens, Eddie sets off to the Bomb Bay Cafe to confront them. After killing 3 more men and rescuing 2 women, Eddie tells the Heathens that the Hogans hired him. At his hotel, the 2 women insist on "thanking" Eddie, and they have sex. At a meeting that night, the Heathens conclude that the Hogans have betrayed them by hiring Eddie, and set out to ambush the Hogans and their father. The Hogans, in turn, attack the Heathens, and Eddie contributes to the chaos by causing several large explosions during their battle. Johnny reappears, however, and sacrifices himself to draw attention away from Eddie. After an unsuccessful lynching, Eddie manages to escape with Johnny.

Rhonda and Eddie are devastated when Johnny does not recover from his injuries, and resolve to avenge him. Back in town, Eddie appears to return to his hotel room, and the Heathens and Hogans (who realize Eddie has played them against one another) unite to kill him. Eddie, Eli, Rhonda and Jubal booby-trap his room, however, and Eddie systematically kills most of the gang. When only Matt Hogan remains, he and Eddie dual. Once Matt gets the upper hand, several citizens shoot Matt, and argue over who truly killed him.

Afterwards, there is peace in town, and Eddie leaks a story to the newspaper about UFOs causing 28 "disappearances" in town. This brings tourism and prosperity to the town, and he rides off with Rhonda and a vision of Johnny alongside.

Cast

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Production

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Filming

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Variety reported that filming started in June 1998 and had a planned schedule of eight weeks.[6] The original cut of the film was known as Coyote Moon. Van Damme did not like this cut and had the film recut. Avildsen unsuccessfully attempted to have his name removed from the film.[7]

Release

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Home media

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On July 1, 2002 DVD was released by Columbia TriStar Home Video at the UK in Region 2.[citation needed]

On September 20, 2010 Jean-Claude Van Damme’s ten movie collection DVD was released; including nine action films they were: No Retreat, No Surrender, Nowhere to Run, Hard Target, Street Fighter, Sudden Death, The Quest, Double Team, Knock Off and Universal Soldier: The Return.[citation needed]

Reception

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Critical response

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Larry Powell and Tom Garrett wrote in The Films of John G. Avildsen that "reviews were scarce and the few that did get published were cruel."[7] Rotten Tomatoes, a review aggregator, reports that 0% of five surveyed critics gave the film a positive review; the average rating was 3/10.[8]

Dragon's Domain Records praised Bill Conti's musical score as "a hard-hitting mix of country and blues rock and roll, keyboard synthesizers, a delicate love theme for acoustic guitar, and some compelling mystical music associated with what remained of the Native Indian subplot. These elements come together in a lengthy, climactic showdown of furious intensity and motivic interaction which culminates the film in a wild melee of body slams, bone-crunching kicks, and staccato gunplay".[9]

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The Felice Brothers' song Inferno, on their 2021 album, From Dreams to Dust, references the film.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ Babcock, Andrew (2020-03-03). "AT A TIME WHEN JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMME WAS FORCED TO DIRECT-TO-VIDEO, HIS ACTION PROWESS WAS ACTUALLY AT HIS MOST ULTIMATE-NESS IN 'DESERT HEAT' AKA 'INFERNO' (1999)". Ultimate Action Movie Club. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
  2. ^ Barnes, Mike (2017-06-16). "John G. Avildsen, Oscar-Winning Director of 'Rocky,' Dies at 81". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  3. ^ Dagan, Carmel (2017-06-16). "John G. Avildsen, Director of 'Rocky,' 'Karate Kid' Films, Dies at 81". Variety. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  4. ^ Babcock, Andrew (2020-03-03). "AT A TIME WHEN JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMME WAS FORCED TO DIRECT-TO-VIDEO, HIS ACTION PROWESS WAS ACTUALLY AT HIS MOST ULTIMATE-NESS IN 'DESERT HEAT' AKA 'INFERNO' (1999)". Ultimate Action Movie Club. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
  5. ^ "Desert Heat | film by Avildsen [1999] | Britannica".
  6. ^ "Van Damme pic ignites". Variety. June 22, 1998. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  7. ^ a b Powerll, Larry; Garett, Tom (2013). The Films of John G. Avildsen. McFarland Publishing. p. 216. ISBN 978-0-7864-6692-4.
  8. ^ "Desert Heat (Inferno) (1999)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  9. ^ "Movetunes for You: Inferno (Bill Conti)". Chris' Soundtrack Corner. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
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