Dantes Peak 🎥 1997 Movie Info

Plot Summary

Volcanologist Harry Dalton and his partner-turned-fiancée Marianne attempt to escape an ongoing eruption in Colombia. As they venture out, a lava bomb smashes through the roof of the truck, killing Marianne. Four years later, despite the trauma he suffered in the course of his employment, Harry is assigned by his superior, Dr. Paul Dreyfus, to investigate seismic activity near the town of Dante’s Peak, Washington, which borders a stratovolcano. Harry meets Mayor Rachel Wando with her children, Graham and Lauren. Rachel offers to take Harry with them as they see her former mother-in-law Ruth, an elderly hermit who lives near the lake at the base of the volcano.

While exploring, they find dead trees, dead squirrels and a couple of tourists boiled to death in a hot spring. Harry stops Graham from jumping into the spring upon seeing the bodies. Harry instructs Paul to bring a USGS team to monitor the volcano, but their initial survey finds no indications of volcanic activity. Paul advises against Harry putting the town on alert. Still, Harry tries to convince Rachel to prepare for a disaster. One day, Harry examines the summit’s crater until a rock slide traps his co-worker Terry, causing him to suffer a broken leg. Both men are rescued by a helicopter.

Days go by showing no signs of any threat or activity. Paul decides that no danger is imminent, and the USGS team prepares to leave. When Harry says goodbye to Rachel, they discover that the town’s water supply has been contaminated with sulfur dioxide. The following day, seismic readings and sulfur levels rise dramatically. Convinced that the volcano will erupt and with the National Guard unavailable until the next day, Paul permits Harry to put the town on alert. As a town meeting occurs at the high school, an earthquake strikes, and the eruption begins.

Meet the Cast