Review of "100 Degrees Below Zero: The Force of Nature Against the Will of Man," DVD video

Review of

100 Degrees Below Zero: The Force of Nature Against the Will of Man, DVD video

Two out of five stars

 While the premise of climate change caused by human action is significant and worthy of expression in dramatic films, the tactic taken here is most unusual. In this video, the adding of carbon to the atmosphere leads to the formation of a powerful and self-sustaining downward vortex. Super cold air from high in the atmosphere is rapidly pressed to the ground, leading to a very rapid and deadly drop in temperatures. The event is transient, there is a short burst of temperatures that drop to less than 100 degrees below zero and then the temperature rebounds. At first, the phenomenon is localized to a small region, but over time it will get larger until it engulfs the entire North American continent. Similar vortices are active in other areas of the world.

 The dubious nature of the premise is further reinforced by the ignorance of the weather scientists, as they are unable to explain the phenomenon. Given that there are many shots of the vortex taken from space in the video, that fact is dubious. This is information that would be known across the globe. Yet, that ignorance is needed so that the main male character can encounter the self-exiled climate scientist that predicted the weather events. It is only when that scientist is able to transmit his data to the world that the reality is understood and countermeasures prepared.

 The acting is often marginal, the expressions of emotions simplistic. A couple with a teenage son are the two main characters, they travel to a remote location in Alaska where the female physician volunteers at a local health clinic. The son is incensed at having to go with his parents, but predictably he finds a love interest. The drama is not very dramatic and there is a “tada” moment near the end that is needed for their survival.