The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari

Great story, beautifully shot, just poorly produced. The background music is overwhelming to the point of muting the participants voices. I ended up having to use subtitles to get around the swelling orchestra. And, so unnecessary because this story is dramatic enough.

If you want to watch a truly terrifying documentary this year then let me recommend 'The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari'. SYNOPSIS: 'During a sightseeing trip to a remote island, 47 tourists and guides are trapped by a volcanic eruption off the coast of New Zealand in 2019. Minute-by-minute footage and personal accounts give testimony to the tragedy that will claim 22 lives.' What makes this so scary is the amount of 1st person footage there is and how we watch people reacting to an experience which will change their lives for ever. And for some it'll end their lives or leave scars, both physical and mental, which there is no recovering from. It's harrowing at times as the awe of nature's wonders turns into mortal terror. How do escape the inescapable? How do you face your own mortality in that moment? It's a tremendously powerful documentary but it should come with a warning as some of the scenes you witness and hear are not for the faint of heart. Those who survived suffered the most terrible of injuries. Tragic and terrifying. 8/10

As "The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari" (2022 release; 98 min) opens, we are introduced to a small community on the North Island of New Zealand. Thirty miles off the coast lies Whakaari, or "White Island", one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and a popular tourist attraction. It is "December 9, 2019" as tourists arrive on the island... At this point we are less than 10 min into the movie. Couple of comments: this is the latest documentary from director Rory Kennedy, who just earlier this year made the excellent "Downfall: The Case Against Boeing". Here she reflects on that fateful day in December, 2019, when a group of tourists visiting Whakaari find themselves trapped when the volcano erupts. Let me admit up front that I had not heard of this tragedy before seeing this. A couple of things struck: first and foremost, the beauty of that island (someone remarks "it's like landing on the moon"), resulting in absolutely stunning photography (and immediately wanting to add this island to my "bucket list" of places to visit). But also this: there is a reason why the island is called "the most active volcano in the world", as this type of eruption apparently happens with regularity (as in: also in 2016, also in 2013, etc.). It is telling that after the 2019 eruption, the island was closed permanently to visitors, Along the way, we get lots of talking heads, including tourists who survived, first responders, etc. "The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari" had a brief US theatrical release, and then started streaming on Netflix, where I caught it. In and of itself there is nothing "revolutionary" about this disaster documentary, but watching the footage of this far flung location, literally at the end of the world, makes this worthwhile. Of course don't take my word for it, so I readily encourage you to check it out and draw your own conclusion.

A bunch of people travel to an ACTIVE volcano and then are amazed that such things erupt. The result is not good and sad, but the fact they ventured onto this ticking time bomb is an exercise in bad judgement, not drama. Hard pass.

Very riveting and sad. Well put together. Listening to the survivors and watching their footage is heartbreaking.

Very good watch, very moving, with the exception of the Maori leader - his plugs were self indulgent and added nothing to the documentary other than to sign as the obligatory iwi pay-out had occurred.

Touching and hard to grasp. Very emotional reports and shocking footage.

A reminder of how a split second decision on a holiday can change your life. Mother Nature is a force, she operates on her own clock in her own time zone. These tourist should not have been on the island. Heartbreaking. Honest and raw. There are more stories than those who agreed to the film.

Something beautiful and terrible…and you can’t take your eyes away from it. A truly remarkable & intense story.

Beautiful and moving movie that shows the bitter truth of grief while also showing the power of love.