With a title like Nature Unleashed Volcano and watching the first few minutes of the movie, you'd think you're in store for a volcano-chasing action movie as in Twisters with a chatty flirty perilous couple getting themselves into trouble all over the place.
But things take a sharp turn quite quickly, and volcano photographer Russell returns to his deceased wife's Italy hometown to research her childhood.
Eerily enchanted by a mysterious mute girl vaguely similar in appearance with his deceased wife, Russell makes inquiries with the locals. The head of monastery tells Russell in no uncertain terms to stay clear of devilish girl Angela.
So what does Russell do? THE EXACT OPPOSITE. He becomes literally obsessed with the girl, chasing her all over town, following her into the most potentially comprising quarters - mind you, she's a minor or not much older than a minor - and there he is grabbing her by the shoulders in the depth of a cave.
Of course, Russell continues to ignore everyone's warnings, and the more bizarre Angela acts, oddly, the more Russell is drawn toward her and her cryptic drawings.
For a stretch of the movie, the movie goes full-on The Exorcist. The title frankly does the movie little justice. The movie would have more aptly been titled "The Devil's Prophet" or "The Devil's Volcano."
To the movie's credit, there is a substantial amount of credible action and effects, as well as a large cast of extras, many of whom were falling to the ground on fire - all surprisingly engaging for a movie seemingly of such low budget.
Evocative of Obsession (1976) in many respects, you do wonder if there's a huge twist to be had, or whether Angela and her mom actually were struck by lightning or perhaps there was some foul play from the monastery. But no. Perhaps that would have been too clever.
In the end, frankly, it's a little hard to believe Russell didn't scoop adorable misunderstood Angela up and "take her back to the States" where he could "give her the beautiful life she deserves"...considering how he literally risked his life multiple times to keep her out of harm's way.
That aftermath would have made for an interesting movie.
