Dante's Inferno (2007)

In the grand tradition of apocalyptic live-action graphic novels, Dante's Inferno emerges as a subversive, darkly humorous retelling of the 14th-century literary titan, crafted with the quaint charm of Victorian-era toy theater. This extraordinary odyssey employs hand-drawn paper puppets and miniature sets, eschewing modern CGI effects for a unique, textured aesthetic. The tale takes its viewers on a haunting exploration of hell, which bears an uncanny resemblance to our own world. Dante, sporting a hoodie and nursing a hangover from prior indulgences, awakens lost in an unfamiliar urban wasteland, both physically and metaphorically. His only guide is the unconventional ancient Roman poet Virgil, clad in a mullet and a robe of nondescript brown. This unlikely duo embarks on a descent through the hellish depths, where Dante discovers a distorted mirror image of modern society. Their journey through the underworld traverses a backdrop of used car lots, strip malls, gated communities, and the U.S. Capitol, which brim with sinners stewing in hot tubs and sewage-swimming in the river Styx. The cast of damned souls is a parade of familiar faces, from presidents and politicians to popes and pop culture icons, all serving their creatively grotesque eternal penances that range from bodies twisted in half and nonstop techno dance parties to a horrifyingly intimate encounter with Lucifer himself. As Dante navigates the nine circles of hell, he gains a profound understanding of the infernal justice system, each torment designed to fit the crime committed in life. Emerging from this harrowing journey, Dante becomes a changed man, but his beer of choice remains untouched. Darkly comedic and chillingly familiar, Dante's Inferno is a captivating tour of the underworld set against the all-too-real canvas of our own societal decay.

Dante's Inferno is an animation movie featuring Dermot Mulroney and directed by Sean Meredith.

It is possible to buy Dante's Inferno on Amazon Video.