Death lurks in the depths
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Death lurks in the depths |
| Original title | On hostile ground |
| Country of production | USA , Canada |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 2000 |
| length | 120 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Mario Azzopardi |
| script | Brian L. Ross |
| production | Frank Siracusa |
| music | Asher Ettinger , Tony Kosinec |
| camera | Derick V. Underschultz |
| cut | Stephan Fanfara |
| occupation | |
| |
Death lurks in the depths (original title: On Hostile Ground ) is an American-Canadian action film by director Mario Azzopardi from 2000 with John Corbett , Jessica Steen , Brittany Daniel , Andrew Kraulis and Peter Stebbings .
action
A few days before the Mardi Gras parade, a sewer on the outskirts of New Orleans collapsed in a cave and buried a worker who was conducting a patrol there. The city administration is concerned that there will be negative press shortly before the festivities. The chief of construction , Allison Beauchamp, is tasked with investigating the case. She asks her partner, geologist Matt Andrews, for help, who after some hesitation agrees. He worked for many years as an experienced mine manager , until an accident occurred there when some of his employees improperly handled explosives. Although he was not to blame, he vowed never to work underground again. For the sake of his partner, however, he starts the investigation - much to the displeasure of the ambitious press spokesman Regan, who is concerned about the event.
Allison starts investigating immediately, so she asks Matt to pick up her cousin Cindy at the city airport . She moved from New Orleans many years ago and is now visiting to attend the celebrations. The three spend a carefree evening in a bar where Cindy meets her old friend Dalton, whom she has not seen since childhood. He plays as a musician at the festival and was privy to the visit. As a present for Cindy, he organized two spots on one of the floats.
Meanwhile, there is another incident in the city center in which a woman and her child almost sink into a hole in the ground. Both get away with the horror, but now the question arises whether the parade should be canceled. The press spokesman has since received photos from the French Quarter from an employee of the civil engineering department , which show clear cracks in a building. However, he does not forward this information, but destroys his copies. The mayor asks Allison to prepare an appraisal that he wants to follow. Regan withholds his knowledge of the impending danger and puts pressure on Allison. He explains to her the consequences if she cancels the party and there are no further incidents. Allison bends over and recommends that the mayor let the party take place. This decision leads to a dispute with Matt, which quickly escalates. Allison accuses him of being too cautious and always striving for 100% safety after the incident in the mine, which however does not exist. That is also the reason why he still does not want to marry her after more than seven years of mutual relationship.
Matt continues his investigations and discovered a huge cave under the French Quarter during an excavation, over which the pageant will run. He realizes that large parts of the city are endangered by an underground peat fire . Rainwater washed away the remains of the fire, creating large cavities. He sounds the alarm and calls on the mayor at an emergency meeting to cancel the move. He suggests filling the cavity with polyurethane in order to prevent a catastrophe. The mayor refuses to cancel the festival, however, as Matt cannot be certain whether there will be another break-in. At the same time, he should seal the cavity with the help of the styrofoam- like substance.
Meanwhile, Cindy and Dalton are preparing to take part in the move. They dress up as angels and ride happily on one of the wagons. Matt climbs into the cavity again and instructs the workers to drill the polyurethane into the cavity. During his research, however, he discovers that there is an even larger void beneath the entire city. He tries in vain to warn the mayor.
The parade begins and shortly afterwards the first cracks appear in the floor of the French Quarter. The ground gives way and some vehicles and neighboring houses are torn down. Cindy and Dalton run into a bar at the last moment and are spilled by falling debris. Cindy survives unharmed while Dalton breaks an arm. Both are found and rescued at the last minute by firefighters. Regan is questioned by press officers about the incidents. He denies any responsibility until an employee of the civil engineering office presents the photos again. Thereupon Regan remains silent and is summoned to the mayor by a police officer.
Matt begins preparing to backfill the underground when the way back from the cave labyrinth is spilled and he is trapped. He urges to start backfilling, even though it would mean his own death. Allison, who has rushed over, gives the signal to turn on the pumps for the polyurethane. Matt flees from the rising mass that expands in the cavities. In doing so, however, he loses his tracking device, and Allison believes he perished in the crowd. At the last second, Matt can place an explosive charge in a remaining cavity and thus pave his way to freedom. Overjoyed, Matt and Allison as well as Cindy and Dalton are reunited. Matt asks Dalton to play at his and Allison's upcoming wedding.
Premiere
- The film was shown for the first time in Germany on May 2, 2004 on RTL II .
criticism
"The cheap strip offers laughable action, but takes itself terribly seriously."
"Mediocratic disaster film with a ridiculous story, familiar plot and extremely poor special effects."
Web links
- On Hostile Ground in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Death lurks in the depths. Retrieved March 31, 2013 .
- ↑ Death lurks in the depths. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .