Inferno

Eddie Lomax is a drifting loner haunted by the death of his close friend Johnny. He rides his motorcycle into a sunbaked desert town where Johnny once lived, hoping to shake off the despair. A gang of toughs ambushes him, beating him and stealing his bike, leaving him battered and furious. Lomax refuses to surrender his dignity, setting out to avenge the theft with a blunt, brutal sense of justice. Jubal Early, a practical handyman, offers a plan and steady help, while Rhonda Reynolds and other area women provide shelter, meals, and moral support. As the pursuit tightens, friendships form and the line between protector and aggressor becomes blurred, testing Eddie's resolve and tempting him toward violence. The town itself acts as a staging ground where old loyalties collide with new bonds.

Directed by John G Avildsen and adapted from a story by Tom O'Rourke, Inferno was released in 1999. With a 15 million budget, it blends Van Damme's martial arts presence with a gritty desert set revenge tale and a lean, character driven tone.

Reception & Themes
Critics treated the film as a lean genre piece that leans into the moral costs of vengeance. The screenplay puts Eddie Lomax through an internal struggle as violence escalates, while Jubal Early offers pragmatic help and Rhonda Reynolds embodies humane support in a rough town. The mood mixes brisk action with careful, wary tenderness.

Box office
Box office details for Inferno are not widely publicized, and the film did not become a major commercial success. It remains a lesser known entry in Avildsen's later career, appealing mainly to fans of JCVD and brisk desert thrillers.

Awards
There were no notable nominations or wins from major awards bodies for Inferno. The film earned attention primarily for its practical, no frills storytelling and Van Damme's restrained performance rather than prestige recognition.