New World Pictures added additional scenes to a Japanese disaster movie, and released "Tidal Wave." Then they released a documentary on disasters titled, "Catastrophe." New World Pictures was ready to add its own disaster movie to the genre in 1978. That movie was "Avalanche," and the cast included Rock Hudson, Mia Farrow, Robert Forster, and Jeanette Nolan. Possible SPOILERS ahead: Rock Hudson plays David Shelby, the owner of a new resort hosting festivities, and winter sporting competitions. Mia Farrow's character is his ex-wife, Caroline Brace, coming for a visit. He wants them to get back together again, but she is unsure. Caroline finds the company of Robert Forster's character appealing, and a love triangle develops. Disaster strikes when an avalanche hits the resort, ski slopes, and ice skating arena. "Avalanche" suffers from its low budget. Some interior scenes are very darkly lit. Most of the avalanche special effects looked unconvincing; especially the blue screen avalanche effects. Stock footage of avalanches are unconvincingly added to try to spruce things up. There are even times when the snow flakes look fake. The script offers several silly instances of drama before the avalanche strikes, and some of the dialogue is dreadful. The ending is absurd with Rock Hudson and Mia Farrow having a champagne toast after his mother (Jeanette Nolan), and many other people have died from the disaster. The film presents characters in danger, but doesn't really create suspense. Rock Hudson's character is mostly unappealing, because he's constantly angry and shouting at people through the course of the story's first day. Most of the acting is passable, but there are some minor characters (the television crew, the secretary, etc.) that are badly acted. Robert Forester does a fine performance. Rock Hudson seemed to overact a bit. The score is effective in giving the film an isolated feeling. "Avalanche" is not a terrible film; it's more mediocre, but I don't think too many people would enjoy it.
