Pierce Brosnan's vulcanologist sees the warning signs for major lava problems in a small mountainside town, but no one will believe him in this typically FX-orientated 1990s disaster flick. Like the same year's larger-scale Volcano, it has some corking digital magma and a lot of cardboard in its path. Director Roger Donaldson handles things in the same way he did in Species, papering over dialogue and character deficiencies with some exciting set pieces, as buildings crumble and roads receive a molten overcoat. Brosnan and romantic interest Linda Hamilton offer serviceable performances, but they're battling against more than just the elements.

Volcanologist Harry Dalton comes to the sleepy town of Dante's Peak to investigate the recent rumblings of the dormant volcano the burg is named for. Before long, his worst fears are realized when a massive eruption hits, and immediately, Harry, the mayor and the townspeople find themselves fighting for their lives amid a catastrophic nightmare.