Riddled with plot holes, dumb logic, drastically generic action, and a cast of characters that could come from about any other movie, Meltdown fits right into the definition of B-movie. It’s concept has been lifted from other films, most notably 1961’s Day the Earth Caught Fire, and the performances range from sub par to abysmal. There’s barely any disaster to consider this a disaster movie too. It’s an illogical mess.
An experiment goes wrong as scientists attempt to blow up an asteroid heading full speed at our planet. When this fails miserably, the asteroid scrapes the Earth, and no one seems to notice the continent-crossing fireball it leaves behind. This near collision shifts the Earth’s orbit, pushing it closer to the sun.
When the temperature hits 140 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s logical that the human body will need some cover. As Casper Van Dien and his family (with loads of emotional baggage being drug behind) make their way across, well, wherever they’re from, they load themselves up with clothes. This is logical in direct sunlight. Once into a sewer system in which no light is coming through and people begin passing out while wearing multiple layers of clothing, it’s hard to feel bad for them. That’s simply sloppy, uncaring filmmaking.
Much of the chaos is handled through stock footage. Power outages seem to be affecting all but the main characters, looting only plays a small role, and the massive fires somehow avoid Van Dien’s crew. Some long distance computer generated shots of a city burning are the closest things to destruction in Meltdown. Amazingly, even with dead bodies everywhere and a climbing temperature, the characters barely even break a sweat.
Their quest to arrive at a small airport and escape to the Arctic seems pointless in the sense of the disaster. Their struggle to survive feels small as the entire planet begins to cook. A few small gunfights fail to add to the drama. You feel as if someone else out there is doing something far more exciting or important.
The family drama, riddled with cheesy, predictable dialogue, stops the film cold. Van Dien has a daughter, and her boyfriend is an ex-con. Even after her boyfriend saves her life multiple times, they still can’t seem to see eye to eye. A broken relationship goes nowhere in the end.
With a final resolution even more implausible than the initial problem, Meltdown doesn’t end well either. It’s generic, though sadly it can’t even live up to the typical, predictable disaster movie formula that can still be enjoyable. Stay out of the heat.
Matt Paprocki is the reviews editor for Digital Press, a classic video game website which he called home after his fanzine (Gaming Source) published its final issue. The deep game collection which spans nearly 30 systems and 2,000 games line his walls for reasearch purposes. Really. He has also begun writing freelance for the Toledo Free Press.
