Inferno (2010)

Inferno
Directed by	Giovanni Tanner
Written by	Ollie Ward
Produced by	Adrien Dupuy
Starring	Adrien Dupuy Corey Gibson Lee Proverbs Anthony Avi-Davis Ronin Gabilisco Adam Copeland Malakai Butler Georgina Wood
Distributed by	Aspana Studios
Release dates	January 12, 2010 (2010-01-12)
Running time	154 minutes
Country	Zamastan
Language	Caticeze-English
Budget	Z$84.15 million
Box office	Z$688.92 million

Inferno is a 2010 Zamastanian war thriller film directed by Giovanni Tanner and written by Ollie Ward. Based on the book Inferno: Life in the Urban and Rural Battlefield of Vulkaria by Aiden Reventon, the film is set during the 1999-2005 War in Vulkaria, the film is known for its graphic portrayal of war, especially its depiction of the Battle of Esta Outpost. The film follows Zamastanian Army Staff Sargeant Luke Poole (Adrien Dupuy) and his squad (Corey Gibson, Lee Proverbs, Anthony Avi-Davis, Ronin Gabilisco, Adam Copeland, Malakai Butler, Georgina Wood) as they seek to defend their remote operating base from MLF insurgent attacks, and it shows their psychological reactions to the stress of combat.

The movie premiered at the 2010 Tofino Film Festival and released internationally on July 12th, 2010, film earned near-universal acclaim from critics, who praised Tanner's directing, the cast's performances (specifically Dupuy), writing, editing, and action sequences. Since its release, Inferno has been considered one of the greatest and most influential films of the 2010s, and also one of the greatest war films of all time. It has been frequently cited as influential in the war and action film genres, primarily due to its use of desaturated colors, hand-held cameras, and tight angles.

Plot

During the war in Vulkaria, SSG Poole and a new group of soldiers arrive at PRT Esta, under the command of CPT Jonas Gillcrest. SGT Michel saves a dog from being shot, and the men fend off yet another insurgent attack. SSG Abell assaults PFC Looney for firing too close to his head, while SGT Larson reprimands SPC Kimble for arguing during the firefight. Gillcrest arranges a shura to offer local elders money for infrastructure projects in exchange for peace. A gunshot residue test proves that a local man took part in the previous day's attack, but he and others lay down their arms. Gillcrest offers to drive a large LMTV through the narrow mountain roads; while Poole and Kimble scout ahead, the vehicle falls off a cliff, killing Gillcrest.

The new commanding officer, CPT Alden Taggert, sends out a patrol after another attack; Poole details how he would mount an assault on the vulnerable outpost. SGT Scott apprehends a local man paid by the elders to take pictures of the base, which leads Taggert to withhold the money Gillcrest promised them. The base's Vulkarian interpreter, Troels, warns of an impending large-scale attack, but his fears are dismissed. Patrolling a bridge with Looney, Taggert is killed by a bomb that he attempts to disarm; the traumatized Looney is talked out of suicide by Poole and extracted out of Esta Base with Taggert' body.

CPT Oates takes charge of the base, which he reveals will soon be closed. An Vulkarian ID is found near the bridge, presumably belonging to the bomber, but Oates refuses to allow Poole and the men to search the nearby villages. Poole clashes with Oates over the captain's strict adherence to the rules of engagement, and pressure from Vulkarian President Dirries postpones the closing of the base. Kimble approaches 1LT Cooper with the men's concern about Oates's leadership, but is rebuffed.

A nighttime attack reveals the insurgents now have mortars. The next day, elders arrive with the body of a girl they fraudulently claim was killed by the Zamastanian counterattack; Oates agrees to compensate them, and shoots Michel's dog for biting an elder. As the troops blow off steam by waterboarding each other, Oates reveals he has been relieved of command and the base will officially close in October. Left in command, Cooper orders the men not to send any communication about leaving the base, as the soldiers make calls to their loved ones.

On the morning of October 3, 2002, Troels alerts the base that the villagers are gone and hundreds of insurgent fighters have surrounded the outpost. A firefight erupts, sending the Vulkarian National Army forces fleeing, and PFC Gellen and Michel are killed. Abell and several others are pinned down inside an armored vehicle, and Poole is wounded trying to reach them. Learning Scott has been killed, Poole eliminates a insurgent sniper. SGT Wode, SPC Hubart, and PVT Kegg try to reach Abell' position, but their vehicle becomes stuck as they realize the insurgents have breached the perimeter. Hubart and Wode are killed, and Poole reaches the TOC and convinces Cooper they should retake the base.

Larson and Kimble lay down covering fire, allowing the others to escape from the armored vehicle. Abell and SSG Farr are killed, and despite taking heavy gunfire, Kimble rescues wounded SPC Sayle. Poole leads a group of men to successfully secure the front gate, just as air support arrives. As a bomber drops its payload on the insurgent's position, Kimble and Larson carry Sayle to the aid station, where CPT Marsden uses fresh blood from himself and others to transfuse Sayle. CPT Clague and a quick reaction force arrive, dispatching the last of the insurgents. The remaining soldiers leave by helicopter as the base is demolished, and learn Sayle did not survive. The Battle of Esta Outpost left 27 Zamastanians wounded and 8 dead, and Poole and Kimble each received the Medal of Honor, members of what became the most decorated unit of the war.

Cast

• Adrien Dupuy as Staff Sergeant Luke Poole
• Corey Gibson as Specialist Simon Kimble
• Lee Proverbs as Captain Jonas Gillcrest
• Ronin Gabilisco as Captain Matt Taggert
• Anthony Avi-Davis as Sergeant Philo Scott
• Adam Copeland as Staff Sergeant Robert Farr
• Malakai Butler as Staff Sergeant Michael Abell
• Georgina Wood as 1st Lieutenant Gideon Cooper
• Tommy Holst as Sergeant First Class Samuel Kersey
• Edard Kaye as Sergeant Cristen Hubart
• Kayden Lloyd as Captain Kieran Oates
• Nash Hines as Captain Lucas Marsden
• Lamar Matthews as Private Colby Kegg
• Allen Burnett as Specialist Stephan Sayle
• Hunter Gallagher as Private First Class Colby Gellen
• Anthony Carter as Sergeant Payl Michel
• Christoffer Buch as Troels
• Mohammad Richardson as Sergeant Cane Wode
• Reuben Bailey as Private First Class Rory Looney
• Kamron Becker as Staff Sergeant Dugal Quark
• Wesley Wiggins as Captain Adam Clague

Production

After Ollie Ward acquired the rights to Aiden Reventon's book, he and his writing partner, Niels Thrane, sold the project as a pitch to Aspana Studios with Adrien Dupuy also attached to produce. Giovanni Tanner expressed interest in directing the film. The film was officially announced alongside the casting of Dupuy, Proverbs, and Avi-Davis in May 2009, and in August Vitosian actor Ronin Gabilisco joined the cast. Because Luke Poole had written a book on the conflict that had in-turn been optioned by Tash Pictures, the producers rushed to get Inferno made, and contact between Poole and Dupuy (who depicts him in the film) was limited after a legal letter from the studio. Three weeks before filming was set to begin, Dupuy broke his ankle, causing a two-week delay, rewrites, and re-choreographing of the fight sequences. Filming took place mostly near Abagene and in Caspiaa, wrapping in mid-October 2018.

Release and reception

In October 2009, a rough edit of Inferno was screened for the depicted soldiers and their families in Nanaimo, which Adam Clague, who was the commander of the unit at the time, called "part of the healing." The film then released at the Tofino Film Festival on January 12th, 2010 and was distributed internationally. In its debut weekend, it topped screenings and made Z$67 million. By the end of its theatrical run, it had made Z$688.92 million.

Inferno's critical response was lauded, with critics and audiences giving it an average 94% in favorability. One critic's consensus reads: "Told with gripping realism, Inferno is a thrilling technical feat and a worthy tribute to military heroes." The Tofino Times called the film a "harrowing immersive account" of the battle and wrote: "Inferno isn't glamorous, but it's respectful of the sacrifice and split-second decision-making that Esta faced, amplifying the terror of such an impossible assignment by attempting to mirror the characters' point of view."