"It can turn day into night, air into fire, calm seas into 1,000-foot tsunamis; it can cause earthquakes and mudslides. And it can happen at any time, creating explosive rivers of hot, liquefied rock flowing downhill at speeds of up to 100 mph; expelling water, steam and fast-moving clouds of incandescent gases, pumice and ash; leaving nothing but death and devastation in its wake.

"The people of Dante's Peak, an idyllic community of 8,000 nestled at the foot of a towering mountain in the Northern Cascades, don't believe it could ever happen to them. But the danger is real: A sleeping giant is awakening, and the one man who can save them from nature's worst nightmare can't get anyone to heed his warnings.

"An epic adventure from Universal Pictures and Pacific Western Productions, Dante's Peak captures the cataclysmic power of a volcanic eruption and explores the ethical dilemma facing those who risk their lives in order to predict when the next big one will erupt.

"At the heart of Dante's Peak is a compelling human drama. The film, based on an original screenplay written by Leslie Bohem, begins with an ominous Colombian volcano evacuation scene that ends with researcher Harry Dalton (PIERCE BROSNAN) trying to outrun a pyroclastic cloud when a lava bomb, a fragment of molten rock, smashes through the cab of his truck, killing his fiancee.

"The tragedy causes Harry to reevaluate his life and work, but when he is asked by his former colleagues to investigate minor seismic activity near the Pacific Northwest town of Dante's Peak, he obliges. The town, run by Mayor Rachel Wando (LINDA HAMILTON), a businesswoman and single parent, is on the verge of signing a lucrative agreement with a millionaire who has selected Dante's Peak as the site of his latest investment -- a deal that will substantially boost both the local economy and the self-esteem of its residents.

"Expecting to find little more than the routine rumblings common to the region, Harry becomes alarmed by what he sees as evidence of the kind of activity -- ground deformation and sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide emissions -- that precedes a catastrophic eruption.

"Harry appeals to Mayor Wando. Though skeptical at first, she decides "better to be safe than sorry" and calls a town council meeting to discuss Harry's warnings of a pending disaster. As evacuation procedures are being discussed, Harry's boss enters and dissuades the council from declaring a state of alert, questioning the scientific accuracy of Harry's findings.

"Yet, the evidence soon mounts and even his colleagues must admit that Harry is right. A town meeting is called for later that evening. During the meeting, the auditorium is rocked by a series of powerful earthquakes, sending the panicked citizenry scrambling for the exits. Chaos ensues when they see an ash cloud over the mountain; traffic snarls the only road leading out of town; buildings start to crumble as the pre-eruption pressure seeks release.

"Harry drives Rachel home to get her two kids, only to discover that Graham (JEREMY FOLEY) and Lauren (JAMIE RENEE SMITH) have gone up the mountain in Rachel's car to evacuate their grandmother Ruth (ELIZABETH HOFFMAN), who stubbornly refuses to budge from her home. With the earth's clock racing against them, Harry and Rachel must rescue Ruth and the children before the volcano blows.