INFERNO
A smart, fast-moving thriller for discerning adults.
Should You Watch It?
INFERNO is mindless fun with an unexpected educational bonus. It races through Florence and the rest of Italy while Robert Langdon deciphers clues hidden in a Botticelli painting inspired by Dante’s Inferno. The action is exciting, and the art lessons make the movie feel smarter than ordinary popcorn entertainment.
The cost is real. Langdon’s hallucinations include demons, people writhing in agony, and a giant river of blood. There is standard action violence, limited foul language, and a quick bedroom scene. The film is more positive than the earlier Langdon movies, but those images and themes still make it unsuitable for children and young teens.
If you are a discerning adult who can handle intense scary imagery, INFERNO is worth the trip; for a family movie night, choose something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESRobert Langdon wakes in a Florence hospital with a head wound and no memory of the previous 48 hours. When a woman dressed as a police officer attacks, Langdon and his doctor, Sienna Brooks, go on the run.
A miniature projector in Langdon’s possession reveals an altered Botticelli painting based on Dante’s Inferno. The image points toward a deadly virus, and Langdon must decrypt the clues before competing forces find it.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means a diverting, well-handled thriller with clear limitations. Director Ron Howard deftly manages the action and intellectual material. Tom Hanks is in fine form, and Felicity Jones brings welcome depth to a key moment while serving as a fun sidekick.
The movie combines breakneck action, historic locations, and lessons in art history. Its distinctive-looking cast adds to the mystery of who may be a hero or villain. Overall, it is entertaining and exciting, though its appeal is primarily that of mindless popcorn entertainment.
The Worldview
INFERNO presents a light moral worldview. It discusses Botticelli’s depiction of Dante’s Christian version of Hell, and the film does not mock or contradict the frightening visions of Hell shown through Langdon’s hallucinations. That is a notable improvement over the previous Langdon movies.
The film also includes politically correct discussion about overpopulation. One villain’s solution to that alleged environmental problem—wiping out half the world’s population—is lightly rebuked. The story’s competing international factions include corrupt agents, but it does not offer a deeper treatment of the moral questions surrounding the virus.
The film’s use of a diverse cast of distinctive-looking actors adds to its uncertainty about who is heroic or villainous, a choice presented as part of the movie’s fun.
The movie’s central moral boundary is clear even amid its thriller framework: deliberately killing innocent people is wrong. Scripture states it plainly: “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Light moral worldview with some discussion about Botticelli’s depiction of Dante’s Christian version of Hell, plus some politically correct talk about overpopulation, though one villain’s solution to this alleged environmental problem is lightly rebuked as extreme; six obscenities (including one “f” word and three “s” words) and one GD; strong action violence includes fake police woman shoots and kills innocent people while trying to kill the hero, character falls to their death through a roof, a couple car chases and several foot chases, scary chase scene across some precarious roof beams, a drone races after the hero and his female doctor, an explosion goes off in an attempt to release a deadly plague, a violent medieval battle scene between men with swords and staffs beating and stabbing each other (which is rooted in another painting), and hero is drugged to experience scary hallucinations of Hell with demons leaping toward the screen, sinners writhe in agony and a huge explosion creates a river of blood; partially depicted clothed fornication; no nudity; no alcohol use; no smoking or illegal drugs but hero is drugged so he loses his short term memory for a while; and, villain wants to wipe out half of the world’s population and there are differing factions of international agents, some of whom are corrupt.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The villain believes mass death can solve overpopulation. Why is every human life valuable to God?
Genesis 1:27 · Psalm 139:13–16The film shows frightening images of Hell rooted in Dante’s work. How should Christians think about the reality of judgment and the hope offered through Christ?
Matthew 25:46 · Romans 8:1Several characters pursue the virus for different reasons. How can good intentions become an excuse for doing evil?
Romans 3:8 · Micah 6:8Langdon must use knowledge of art and symbols to solve the crisis. How can learning and wisdom be used for good?
Proverbs 2:6 · James 1:5The Final Word
INFERNO is an entertaining, fast-moving thriller that makes art history exciting. Its intense hallucinations, action violence, brief profanity, and sexual content make it unsuitable for children and young teens. Discerning adults who can handle those concerns may find WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For a family-friendly alternative, see.
