Crack in the World

Infinitely better than the appalling Day the Earth Caught Fire, which developed along similar lines. A team of scientists are attempting to harness the energy at the earth's core, and explode some nuclear bombs underground in order to speed up their probe. The result is a nightmarish rupture in the earth's crust, which begins to have apocalyptic consequences in terms of climate, earthquakes and human devastation. The theme often seems awesomely credible and the special effects are excellent, although the usual character conflicts in the scientific team become trying at times. The images of chaos at the end are particularly disturbing.