| Into the Inferno | |
| Director: | Werner Herzog |
| Producer: | André Singer Lucki Stipetić |
| Starring: | Clive Oppenheimer |
| Narrator: | Werner Herzog |
| Cinematography: | Peter Zeitlinger |
| Editing: | Joe Bini |
| Studio: | Spring Films Werner Herzog Film |
| Distributor: | Netflix |
| Runtime: | 104 minutes |
| Country: | United Kingdom Germany |
| Language: | English |
Into the Inferno is a 2016 documentary film directed by Werner Herzog. In it, Herzog and volcanologist Clive Oppenheimer explore active volcanoes around the world, especially how they have impacted the cultures of the people who live near them. The film had its world premiere at the 43rd Telluride Film Festival on 3 September 2016 before it began streaming on Netflix on 28 October.
In his exploration of active volcanoes in Vanuatu, Indonesia (Mount Sinabung and Mount Merapi), Ethiopia (Erta Ale), Iceland, and North Korea (Paektu Mountain), Herzog is led by volcanologist Clive Oppenheimer, who hopes to minimize destructive impact of volcanoes through his work. The primary goal of Herzog's quest is to get a better idea of our origins and nature as a species. He finds volcanoes mysterious, violent, and rapturously beautiful, and claims that "there is no single one that is not connected to a belief system."[1]
The film had its world premiere at the 43rd Telluride Film Festival on 3 September 2016.[2] It screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on 13 September,[3] and opened the Muestra de Cine de Lanzarote on November 22.[4] Netflix made the film available for streaming worldwide on 28 October.[5] [6]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 92% of 49 critics' reviews of the film are positive, with an average rating of 7.50/10; the site's "critics consensus" reads: "Into the Inferno finds director Werner Herzog observing some of the most beautiful -- and terrifying -- wonders of the natural world with his signature blend of curiosity and insight."[7] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 76 out of 100 based on reviews from 17 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[8]
| 2016 | Critics' Choice Documentary Awards | Best Director (TV/Streaming) | [9] | |
| Best Documentary Feature (TV/Streaming) | ||||
| 2017 | FOCAL International Awards | Best Use of Wildlife and Natural History Footage | [10] | |
| News & Documentary Emmy Awards | Outstanding Science and Technology Documentary | [11] |