Film glossary definition for:
Disaster Film
Havoc! Mayhem! Catastrophe! The Disaster film is a genre that centers on chaotic and injurious events often caused by natural phenomena such as earthquakes, hurricanes and fires. Catastrophic events occur to people (and the natural landscape) in global or isolated perspectives -- the end of the earth or passengers on a cruise ship or air flight. Causes also include human-made situations such as the destruction of a structure -- skyscraper, ship, plane -- by fire or misguided figures. Rarely do these films develope characters well but the situation is usually remedied through technological applications and innovations by the featured actresses or actors and the roles in which they are situated. Occassionally the remedy is simply discovered by the characters through their diligence and perseverance. This type of film is often produced during times of great national strife and act in a cathartic fashion to alleviate the anxiety of the public. (This idea was discussed by Aristotle in "The Poetics.")