F. Murray Abraham as a dictator vs. an actual volcano. Who overacts more?
Sam Hunter, an American photojournalist, is ostensibly covering the Pope's visit to the South American country of San Pedro. But Sam's real goal is to track down the elusive revolutionary leader Marcos and bring back an exclusive interview. Sam quickly gets into trouble with the repressive military regime of the dictator Mendosa, which controls San Pedro with an iron grip. Nevertheless, Sam heads off to the mountains to find Marcos. On his way, he meets the radiantly beautiful Dr. Luisa Suarez, a doctor committed to the impoverished mountain peasants. An awakening volcano and the best efforts of a government death squad do not stop Sam from reaching Marcos, and he becomes sympathetic to the cause... documenting it with his photos. In a tumultuous climax, revolution and the volcano erupt simultaneously, as Sam struggles to get his revealing photos out to the front pages of the world's newspapers.
Practical Effects
Actual volcano footage spliced with actors looking concerned
Acting
F. Murray Abraham clearly paying off a boat
Production
Shot in Venezuela with that unmistakable 90s TV movie gloss
Director
Gwyneth Gibby
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Director Gwyneth Gibby was Roger Corman's daughter-in-law and made several Corman-produced action films in the 90s.
The fictional 'San Pedro' follows a long Hollywood tradition of creating generic Latin American countries to avoid political specifics.
US
