Review

Ready for something really different? Try this disturbing interpretation of the 700-year-old text, set against a modern backdrop. A journey through used car lots, strip malls, gated entryways and the U.S. Capitol, this simple story sees a man led through the seven rings of hell by a cautionary guide who is determined to make this lost soul change his ways before it is too late. Featuring the vocal talents of James Cromwell and Dermot Mulroney, Dante’s Inferno is truly a sight to behold. Each frame is constructed of exquisitely complex hand-drawn puppets and backgrounds, a technique reminiscent of children’s toy theater from the Victorian era that gives the film the feeling of a twisted school lesson plan with a graphic novel edge. Though definitely not for children, Dante’s Inferno is a great way to brush up on a classic or just see it re-envisioned as a bizarrely captivating midnight movie.

 -- Michael Lerman