Dante's Peak (1997) - A Movie Review

We need to escape now before the volcano erupts!

Dante’s Peak is a 1997 film. Harry Dalton, a volcanologist, arrives in a small town where there have been signs of an active volcano. As he scopes the town, he discovers a dormant volcano that isn’t long until it awakens.

I love me a good disaster film. It’s not all about the exciting destruction that occurs, but the stories that go along with it. Yes, absurdities may occur in Dante’s Peak, but it’s an entertaining and on-edge flick about family and survival.

Pierce Brosnan always makes a charming leading man, especially as the volcanologist hero, Harry Dalton. He adds more layers to this character, making Harry a good-natured man. To ensure the right pronunciation for his scientific dialogue, he practiced regularly in front of the mirror.

80s icon actress Linda Hamilton stars as Rachel, a hardworking, fierce, and protective single mom. Brosnan and Hamilton became friends while working on this movie. The chemistry between their characters grows naturally throughout the story.

Child roles have their tendencies to make kids helpless and get in the way, but that’s done differently here. Jeremy Folee and Jamie Renee Smith are excellent as Linda’s kids, Graham and Lauren. They also help in situations. The sweetest moment is Graham comforting his little sister during a scary moment. Even now, it makes me tear up.

You can always use a grandparent in these stories, and the late Elizabeth Hoffman (Ruth) is splendid in the role. Though stubborn, Ruth makes a heroic move. Age doesn’t matter as a hero.

The supporting cast includes Harry’s volconologist partners. Credits include Charles Hallahan, Grant Heslov, Kirk Trutner, Arabella Field, and Tzi Ma. I always laugh at how one of them becomes over-caffeinated with all of Linda’s coffee visits. And of course, with a disaster film comes an ensemble of screaming and panicked individuals.

Director Roger Donaldson was once a geology student, which is what drew him to this film. His fascination with volcanoes helped with this film, and he consulted with scientists for accuracy. Donaldson slowly builds the tension throughout each scene. Early scenes focus on small warning signs until the big disaster explodes. That’s how you keep audiences on edge.

Do you know what the special effects team used as volcanic ash: a lot of newspaper shavings. Donaldson went for practical effects over CGI. He admitted that green screens were used for some scenes, like the flooded bridge. Scenes of the crater were filmed at Mount St. Helens. The whole production took two months to film in the summer of 1996.

Dante’s Peak competed with Volcano (1997) in the year it was released. The 90s were a popular time for the disaster trope genre. I am a fan of Volcano, but Dante’s Peak is more accurate in its portrayal. Volcano used too many digital effects, which became repetitive.

The film doesn’t go without its flaws. There are noticeable continuity errors, like with destruction. Viewers have noticed a few factual errors regarding volcanoes. The ending is overstuffed with disaster tropes and could have ended sooner.

Dante’s Peak is intense. Other than people running from the burning lava of falling craters, the boat ride across a toxic lake always makes my heart pound. Certain character outcomes are sad. When thinking about why I like disaster movies so much is human connection. It’s subtle, but characters realize the impact of their relationships, becoming closer.

If you’re looking for a good disaster film to watch, take a look at Dante’s Peak. It’s a thrilling ride from start to finish.