Dante's Peak Review

    Dante's Peak was a favourite for both me and my family. I watched it countless times in my teens to the point that even today I can roughly do a play-by-play of the whole thing. So rewatching it now after so long was an interesting exercise of almost cognitive dissonance: on the one hand, I can see all it's many, many flaws; but on the other, it still warms my inner 14 year-old's heart.

    Through 2020 eyes [there's a joke in there somewhere...], it's oh so very 90s: the overly dramatic acting, the painful dialogue, the sudden face zooms. And no one will accuse it of suffering from too much originality; if anything, it follows the recipe for 90s disaster movies almost perfectly, morality deaths and all. But somehow what it does, it does well, and still manages to pack a hell of an adrenaline punch.

    The special effects (probably mostly practical effects) have withstood the test of time with a respectable amount of grace, and the film doesn't waste too long with filler plot lines or multiple character groups, making it short and sweet at 1h48. And for every painfully bad supporting actor chewing up the scenery (Arabella Field, I'm looking at you!), you have solid performances by the 4 main protagonists (yes, I'm counting the kids here rather than the other geologists). The chemistry between Linda Hamilton and Pierce Brosnan is great (and boy, is that a stellar onscreen kiss!) but even more so is what they both have with the kids.

    Actually, watching it now as a teacher, I realised that that's one of the things that makes me have a soft spot for this movie. Everything to do with the children is superb. Their interactions with all the other characters, their acting, and particularly how the adults manage them through this horrific experience. No, really, there is some true pedagogy on display: reassurance without empty lies, giving the kids something to do so they don't focus on worrying, keeping a calm demeanour whenever possible....

    Something that jumped out at me this time around is how Harry is a true hero. No histrionics for him, no daring jumps across buildings, or dangling from a helicopter (something all too easy to imagine a Bond actor doing). Instead, you have the small stuff which for most of the film just means being there. I mean, he only knew them for what, two or three weeks? Yet he repeatedly risks his life for them and puts their survival ahead of his own, nowhere more evident than in that claustrophobic scene with ELF.

    And then there's the moment on the boat. I loved it 20 years ago and I love it just as much now. The exchange of looks between the adults conveys how dire the situation is to the audience while the characters desperately try to keep the kids from the same realisation. Add to that the eery juxtaposition of the tense score with "Row Row Row Your Boat" and that absolutely gorgeous aerial shot of the boat cutting through the lake waters...goosebumps, people!

    So ok, I can't quite sit here and say this is an amazing film. But it's entertaining and thrilling to watch nonetheless.

Conclusion: Solid [what's this?]

Dante's Peak came out in 1997.