For more than a century, people have watched L’inferno and let their mind provide the soundtrack. Now, thanks to Austin-based chamber group Montopolis, the silent film that tells part of the story of Dante’s Human Comedy will have an audible life of its own.

L’inferno, first shown in Italy in 1911, is billed as the first feature-length horror film ever released, and it’s a loose interpretation of the first canticle of Dante’s epic Austin group Montopolis provides a 14th century journey through hell.

live soundtrack for The film received new life when it was the 1911 horror film restored and released on DVD in 2004. L’inferno, screening at

Montopolis, helmed by artistic director and the Jean Cocteau. composer Justin Sherburn, will be touring the U.S. and playing a live soundtrack to L’inferno in a number of cities, including the Jean Cocteau Cinema on Thursday, October 5.

Montopolis will play a number of L’inferno shows in Texas and California during October and will return to New Mexico for a show at El Cortez Theater in Truth or Consequences on October 19.

Prior to L’inferno, Montopolis toured in 2022 behind an original score to the 1929 Ukranian documentary Man With a Movie Camera.

Four tracks of the group’s L’inferno soundtrack are also available on Spotify. — S.F.

7 p.m. Thursday, October 5

Jean Cocteau Cinema, 418 Montezuma Avenue

$20 to $50 montopolismusic.com, jeancocteaucinema.com