Super Eruption (2011 TV Movie) User Reviews

Super Eruption: Better than you'd assume

[Platypuschow · 5/10 · 8 February 2018]

Yet another volcano disaster film and made by the Syfy channel?! Never really stood a chance did it?

Thing is this is slightly tweaked. What do you get when you cross a volcano movie with Frequency (2000)? You get Super Eruption which isn't as bad as you'd think.

It tells the story of an eruption occurring underneath Yellowstone park and the usual attempts at stopping it through pseudo science.

Super Eruption however has a scifi twist to it which both makes it more interesting and considerably less credible. The concept makes you think but it's 100% guaranteed to cause a migraine or two.

The decent cast keep the movie from falling into mediocrity, and though it is just another scyfy original it's certainly watchable.

The Good:

Cast do a good job

Some interesting ideas

The Bad:

Poor sfx

Usual levels of baffling stupidity

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

Would Yellowstone erupting actual cause the end of the world? Let's not find out

The world is saved yet again by a single scientist...

[paul_haakonsen · 3/10 · 20 August 2013]

"Super Eruption" did have potential, sure it wasn't going to be the next "Volcano", but still, it had potential to be a good enough movie. That is right up until they introduced the aspect where Kate (played by Juliet Aubrey) started to getting TV broadcasts from herself from the future. When that happened, then the entire line just snapped and the movie went spiraling downhill fast.

The story is about the volcano that lie underneath Yellowstone that starts to come to life and threatens to obliterate all life on Earth, and manages to do so, but given the help from herself in the future, Kate comes up with a plan to cool down the magma and save planet Earth from extinction.

Right, very plausible storyline right there. That storyline was so outrageous and preposterous that it was impossible to buy into. And the overall lack of anyone ever being in any real danger, didn't really help to move the movie to make the audience believe that the entire planet was in danger of becoming extinct.

"Super Eruption" is a low budget version of "Volcano" with a slightly more megalomaniac aspect that was just downright ridiculous.

I will say that the magma and lava effects were actually cool - pardon the pun - most of the time, and looked believable enough.

As for the acting, well people were doing alright with what they had to work with - which was very little - so given that, then thumbs up for the actors and actresses for trying their best. No one really stood out in any particular way here, neither good, nor bad.

"Super Eruption" was also as predictable as these types of natural disaster movies come. You know exactly what the movie will end like, and sure enough, it did! And it is really hard to buy into this whole thing where one or two people save the entire world from extinction - it just doesn't seem plausible.

If you enjoy volcanic movies, then "Super Eruption" is good enough for a single watching, if you don't mind that whole 'salvation message from the future' take on the storyline. However, don't expect to be dazzled or impressed in any way.

Super Eruption, What's Your Function?

[wes-connors · 4/10 · 21 February 2014]

Before the opening credits, rugged park ranger Richard Burgi (as Charlie Young) parachutes into a hellish countryside to rescue his pretty blonde daughter MyAnna Buring (as Claire) and her muscular young boyfriend Alex Wyndham (as Josh). The attempt appears to fail as lava covers the screen. After the credits, we meet our fourth principal player, Disaster Management Agency (DMA) volcanologist Juliet Aubrey (as Kate Brooks). She is helpless as volcanic activity covers North America and the rest of the world. Earth is about to explode when we flashback, "Two Days Earlier." Yellowstone National Park is peaceful until Mr. Wyndham finds a sexually-inclined couple scorched by a sudden blast of hot water. This is interesting as Rafael Jordan's story then proceeds like a horror movie, with the volcano as its monster. However, a disconnected science-fiction time-travel angle and cheesy special effects make it look too silly.

**** Super Eruption (3/8/11) Matt Godd ~ Richard Burgi, Juliet Aubrey, MyAnna Buring, Alex Wyndham

Super Eruption big waste of time!

[lpersson9801 · 16 July 2011]

I was looking forward to watching a new and exciting disaster movie this evening. This movie was a total waste of my two hours. Although the basic story is good - Yellowstone erupting, which scientists say is inevitable, the storyline is totally ludicrous. The scenes where the main character sees and talks to herself through her computer, from apparently another dimension, makes no sense whatsoever and doesn't add a thing to the story. The special effects as well are just pitiful.

If there's nothing else to watch on TV and you don't care about wasting two hours, then go for it; otherwise, you'll be better off spending that time reading a good book. I wish that's what I had done! In my opinion, this is one of many badly scripted made-for-TV science fiction movies that has come out of Hollywood in the past two decades. Seems they don't know how to make them anymore!

Super is not the best way to describe this movie...

[TheLittleSongbird · 1/10 · 23 March 2012]

In fact I found this movie pretty awful. Not the worst I've seen from SyFy, but this is little consolation. The premise seemed decent if not exactly new territory, and I have seen some of the actors before and I wouldn't call them bad actors overall(I am especially looking at MyAnna Buring). But you would never guess seeing here. It is not terrible or hilariously bad as much, but nobody is really believable and come across as bland. It doesn't help that the script is so cheesy, wishy-washy and sometimes confused too, or that you don't care for the characters at all, for they continue to be written in an underdeveloped and stereotypical manner. The music is both forgettable and sluggish-sounding. But where Super Eruption really falls down is in the story and special effects. The story is a good, if as I've said familiar, but it manages to be predictable and preposterous, with the whole business about the main character being able to see and talk to herself from a different dimension through a computer doesn't make sense, was superfluous to the entire story and with a slightly longer length the film could've explained this much more. The romance was clichéd and hokey as well. I have seen worse effects like in Titanic II, but the ones here do still look fake and as though they were made in a rush. All in all, awful instead of super, dull instead of interesting and preposterous instead of plausible or thrilling, in short not SyFy's worst but still a disaster of a film. 1/10 Bethany Cox

Save yourself!

[neil-upto11 · 1/10 · 19 June 2011]

Oh Lord... It's basically 'Dante's Peak' for TV but, er, with a time-travel 'twist'. Seriously.

The basic set-up? Volcano threatens to destroy earth, no less. And it only gets more preposterous as we go on. A plan involving conventional rescue scenes and parallel universes is made even worse by terrible dialogue and feeble acting.

It's a very poor film but, if you made it this far, I reckon you probably know that already!

(Ps. I've had to add this line because IMDb wants me to pad out the review. I've opted not to subject you to any more about the film though. You've suffered enough.)

This movie is boring

[EdwinKort · 1/10 · 9 July 2011]

*might contain spoilers*

This movie almost made me want to cry.

Worst script ever. Just looks like some disaster movies put together. Some doctor develops an theory about vulcanology and then it all happens. Then she is called on her computer from the future. In the end she solves the problem. Together with her future self she develops a plan to rescue the Earth. Dialogue was terrible. I myself found that the as was looking like some sort of cereal being cooked and thrown around.

This should not even qualify as Science Fiction movie, as the only thing which could be Science Fiction like was the call from the future.

All in all, this movie is very poor, and not worth watching.

Why? Such A Big Piece Of Junk!!!

[marqus32 · 1/10 · 10 August 2013]

OK I am getting sick of these crappy Syfy movies. I can deal with "Sharknado", as much as the next guy but this has gone too far in junk. Too many Cliché's in volcanic disaster movies. Always either somebody surrounded by lava or somebody dies in lava. Volcano movies should have stopped after "Dante's Peak" and "Volcano". Syfy created another crappy masterpiece with "Super Eruption", where the story begins by no other than a volcanic eruption, people die by lava, etc. You know if there was a penny for every bad Volcano movie ever made by Syfy, I would be able to buy the new PS4. Just do something more productive than watch this like........I don't know....get a job, or go ride a bike. Save yourself from Syfy volcano movies.

Garbage

[simon_ecc · 2/10 · 5 December 2017]

I've given it a 2 because I haven't seen the whole movie and therefore can't give it a 1. The script is terrible.

'Copy that.' 'Roger that.' 'Ok, let's go'. 'Let's move out now.' 'We've got to go now'.

(not exactly, but that sort of thing)

...although this is a direct quote. 'If I give you any more, it will overload and game over.'

It's complete dross.

The directing is also terrible. And the acting, although to be honest, I think you have to let them off, given the quality of the script.

I could say more, but it's just not worth it.

I Wanted a Dumb But Fun Film, and That's What I Got!

[icocleric · 5/10 · 9 January 2022]

I wanted to sit down and watch a dumb film that I didn't want to have to think about, and probably shouldn't think too hard about. That's exactly what I got, and I enjoyed it.

It's not the best film, and is the kind of quality you expect from a SyFy film. Some of the special effects weren't all that special, and were obviously clipped from actual volcanoes to try and get the "effect". But it's not the worst I have ever seen. It was clearly low budget, but not super amateurish.

The plot has a plot hole so big, it actually includes time travel. But it's campy, cheesey, and fun. The acting is reasonable, and it's a save everyone and be heroes kind of action film. Fun watch if you know what to expect from this kind of film.

Dante's nadir

[Sergiodave · 3/10 · 29 January 2022]

I feel this deserves more stars because its not easy to make a disaster movie this bad, but I have trouble giving it 3 stars (at least 1 star over). This is a rip off of Dante's Peak, even using similar music, mixed with a bit of Volcano and, surprisingly, Interstellar. It might be the best bad disaster movie I've ever seen, but it starred Juliet Aubrey, and she made it worth watching.

Excellent movie for thoughtful people.

[datanova · 10/10 · 21 September 2017]

I thought this was an excellent movie. The plot was solid although the audience is required to suspend its sense of disbelief which is quite usual for films engaged with communication between alternate universes. The characterisation is solid too with good performances all round. For me the star was Juliet Aubery with her petite English accent and scientific genius mixing admirably. The production was also excellently done. Returning to the story, I think that given the underlying premise it was thought provoking and coherent. I've just watched it for the third time and am not tiring of it yet.

Good-natured SyFy disaster movie

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 19 April 2015]

This one's nearly as entertaining as AIRPLANE VS VOLCANO! SUPER ERUPTION is a good natured SyFy Channel-made disaster movie about a volcano erupting at Yellowstone National Park, although it was actually filmed in Bulgaria with a mainly British cast. Whichever way you look at it, it's a film with an involved storyline, lots of entertaining actors, and plenty of incident to propel the narrative along.

Lame CGI effects are the bane of this sub-genre but to be fair they're not too shabby here and could have been - and often are - a lot worse. The narrative is actually well written for the most part and I loved the extra sci-fi twist thrown in along the way. The last third is a little weak but the early scenes generated enough fun for me not to mind too much.

Actors involved in the shenanigans include likable ex-DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES star Richard Burgi, making a fine double act with British TV actress Juliet Aubrey. The ubiquitous MyAnna Buring (THE DESCENT) puts on a relatively convincing American accent throughout, while Alex Wyndham (ROME) bags the minor role of a park ranger. SUPER ERUPTION is no classic, that's for sure, but when you've seen enough of these low rent disaster flicks you'll learn to appreciate even a middling production like this one.

Out to save the planet woman's fantasy

[poj-man · 3/10 · 4 July 2012]

I've read the other reviews for Super Eruption and my take on the movie is a bit different from the other reviewers have posted. I have watched many a terrible SyFy movie involving all sorts of giant Dinsosharkmegaoctopussnakeheadwalkingcrocoyeti and Super Eruption is vastly superior to all of them. The viewer just has to realize what they are viewing to truly enjoy this howler (being lit doesn't hurt either ;) ).

Kate is a mother who webcams. She is also a scientist who must evidently belong to the Federated Association of White Women who fantasizes about saving the world, the planet, their children, marriage and the future! SUPER ERUPTION!

The Volcano and the end of America and the world are at hand. Kate can save the planet…if only the terrible obviously non-climatogynecological types who run the world would listen to her! SUPER ERUPTION!

Kate and her family go from near disaster to near disaster in incredible wet dream fantasy style sequencing for the white women out to save the world and their families. Kate experiences mini-eruptions that set a fire a burning threatening her! SUPER ERUPTION!

The movie Airplane II's script contains the line: "If this country was run by vegetarian women who's old men deserted them after knocking them up instead of by meat-eating males, this thing never would have happened."

Kate and her allies are those vegetarian women and Super Eruption is how they save the planet! SUPER ERUPTION!

Somebody lost a bet

[petenh · 16 July 2011]

This was terrible. All I can think of is that someone was trying to butter up Juliet Aubrey.

OK, a reasonable enough premise, a scientist is studying the ancient caldera that makes up Yellowstone, and happens to catch something. But it quickly parts with reality when, in two days, the whole situation goes pear-shaped.

Dante's Peak was at least a little more believable. In this movie, choppers seem to be able to fly through ash clouds without getting their engines fouled. Lava seems to defy gravity by flowing uphill to the special HQ tower. And, when they need a place to enter the magma dome, there is a perfect natural hole for them to descend into (after they said that drilling to the magma dome would take weeks). We won't even talk about the messages from the future that Kate receives, and how she is able to open a compressed file that did not complete transmission.

Juliet Aubrey is OK to watch, but her acting is pretty wooden and unconvincing. The rest of the cast is so-so... Special effects are lame. The romance angle is hokey.

I say skip it, unless you really have nothing better to watch

Better than I expected

[PaulCavendish · 5/10 · 20 February 2024]

I have to disagree with many of the reviews here and say I quite enjoyed the film. What made it different from similar volcano/earthquake disasters was the idea of a huge eruption altering the earth'a magnetic field enabling one of the central character, Kate played by the lovely Juliet Aubrey, to contact herself in the past.

The film opens with a domesday scenario with mass eruptions and the promise of an ice age with Kate failing to get the approval for a hypothesis she believes is the only solution. The film then moves back two days and Kate is contacted by her future self who provides anwers to Kate in present time.

Disaster Movie is Right

[shaenn · 18 July 2011]

Or more like a disaster of a movie. Yet another abortion from SyFy. Who green-lights these things? Not every Science Fiction (SciFi) should be made into a movie. The basic story is sound, I liked it as much as I liked the plot several years ago with the movie Supervolcano, a much better done version of the same basic story, Yellowstone erupts. If you have nothing better to do, like your in a coma, than this movie is for you. I wish I could send a message back through time to warn myself not to watch this movie.

Please SyFy Channel, save your money and put out some good movies. Stop canceling the good shows like SGU and wasting our time and your money with crap like Super Eruption.

This volcano is like nothing they have ever seen in Super Eruption

[rgblakey · 20 August 2013]

Over the years for some reason disaster movies have found a fan base like you wouldn't believe. Most of them are a bit cheesy and make little to no sense, but still manage to attract stars as well as fans. The latest Super Eruption stars Richard Burgi with a title that pretty much speaks for itself, but does it explode with enough force to please the hardcore fans of this genre?

Super Eruption follows two Yellowstone Rangers that are forced to fight to save the day against a super volcano that erupts after thousands of years of being dormant. As with most of these movies the story is a mix of possibility and the absurd in hopes to create an edge of your seat disaster flick, but fails to ever really step out of average. The story throws way too much in too fast that it felt like it was rushing to get to the eruption aspect and then never really delivers anything. The effects are pretty cheap and looked like something off the SyFy channel, but minus the cheesy fun. Bergi is always great and does a fine job here with what he is working with, but the rest of the cast are average at best. As mentioned previously the effects should have been the showcase to make a movie like this work, but they didn't offer too many of the fun moments you expect and when they did it just didn't seem like they really pushed it for that great effect.

Obviously there isn't a great expectation of this film being a major blockbuster and is geared towards a specific audience, but those people look for a certain type of cheese and fun which this film lacks. There are sure to be those that love it and cannot wait to add it to their collection, but if you don't normally check these kinds of films out you will most likely be disappointed.

a good break from reality

[sassndance · 14 August 2011]

i find all of the science fiction movies enjoyable because we get a break from the strain of real life. Don't knock what you don't know....Dec 21st 2012....122112....what will happen, maybe nothing but Yellowstone is the largest volcano on the planet and an eruption could almost wipe out our civilization. Were the Mayans right? wait till next year....i like these disaster movies, they are someone's visions of the future. If you don't like the science fiction channel then go watch Dr. Phil or better still talk to him. Since the warnings have started about 2012 being the end of the world, no one really knows what will happen, a catastrophe caused by other planets or the sun? plates shifting due to massive earthquakes and volcanoes? OR the collapse of the world monetary system, no more banks, no money, dog eat dog and we wipe out our civilization ourselves? But if things start happening like you have seen on these kind of movies you will be prepared.