Avalanche (1978)

Avalanche is a classic disaster movie. Produced by Roger Corman and directed by Corey Allen, the film stars Rock Hudson, Mia Farrow, Robert Forster and Jeanette Nolan. The film was shot at a ski resort in Durango, Colorado but also includes real footage of avalanches and follows the aftermath of a disaster at the lodge.

Fans of the B movie disaster genre will love this film. Directed by Roger Corman who is the unnamed "King of the B-movies" the film is obviously on a tight budget which shows in the use of much stock film of real avalanches to bulk up the special effects. Many viewers were not happy with the casting of Rock Hudson and Mia Farrow as they are from two completely different acting types and did not seem to fit together on screen.

That said the suspense of who will survive does maintain interest as in those days directors were not afraid of killing off a few characters to keep the plot alive. In addition, many viewers found the interactions between the characters, which includes love triangles and some nudity, intriguing.

Hudson is a rich business man who has built a luxurious ski lodge on an unstable bit of mountain against expert advice. When his ex wife comes to visit (Farrow) she gets involved with another man (Forster) and sets up tensions between the three. When the avalanche hits it is a race against time to help those trapped and wait for rescue.

Cinema release 1978

Certificate PG

Available on DVD