The Curse of Inferno (1997)

Director:

John Warren

Writer:

John Warren (writer)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

They've got a plan. Now they just need a clue!

Plot:

A rather dull minded bank robber suddenly suffers from a change of heart and decides to give the money back. However, he then learns that getting the money back into the bank is much more difficult than taking it out. |

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Independent Film

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Pauly Shore	...	Chuck Betts
Janine Turner	...	Layla Moanes
Ned Beatty	...	Moles Huddenel
Max Perlich	...	Harold Cantrell
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Lonnie Martin
Blue Deckert	...	Sheriff Gibson
John Pleshette	...	Mr. Wizzard
Weasel Forshaw	...	Harv (as Wes Forshaw)
Ben Loggins	...	Jimmy
Vernon Grote	...	Clifford Tylicki
Brad Leland	...	Vince Clark
Greta Muller	...	Female Bank Teller (as Gretta Muller)
Woody Watson	...	FBI Chief
Michael Crabtree	...	Bank Robber #1
Jim O'Brien	...	Bank Robber #2

Also Known As:

The Stick Up

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Forney, Texas, USA

Company:

Hess/Kallberg Productions

Trivia:

Most of the exterior shots of the town were actually shot in Forney, Texas (The current home of Darlene Cates). The town's signature Jackrabbit, an ornament atop a Lion's Club sign, was adorned with antlers and called the Jackaloupe for the purposes of the movie. Signs to downtown businesses were also covered up with fake signs, hiding the real names of the businesses.

Soundtrack:

BALLAD OF INFERNO

A Different Side of Pauly

I found "The Curse of Inferno" to be one of Pauly Shore's best films. I like most of his previous films (I disliked "Jury Duty" and hated "Biodome"), and this one deserves special attention. Unlike the others, it isn't reaching in all directions for a big laugh every time you turn around.

Two small town guys who dream of being pilots in the Caribbean need $80,000 to open shop. They decide to rob a little bank. As they do, they find that the bank has a lot more money than it should (money is being laundered by rich businessman Ned Beatty and banker Stephen Tobolowsky). To make matters worse, two more robbers show up, causing the original two to botch the job by hiding the loot in the bank itself in order to escape. While plotting on how to retrieve the money, one of the robbers (Shore) meets and falls in love with a new police deputy (Janine Turner). That's when the businessman finds out Shore was involved with the robbery, and puts the pressure on him.

As I said, "The Curse of Inferno" doesn't try to be funny all the time. When it does try, it succeeds. I left it feeling pretty good, and that is a rarity. Zanatos' score: 8 out of 10. Check it out.