Werner Herzog the documentarian? Pretty amazing, a legend of the field. Werner Herzog the director of narrative features? Not so much. While Bad Lieutenant remains a high point of Herzog's it says a lot that we have yet to get a U.S. release of his Gertrude Bell biopic, Queen of the Desert, despite a cast with Nicole Kidman and Robert Pattinson. And it says just as much that there will barely be a release for his latest, Salt and Fire, which stars Michael Shannon, Gael Garcia Bernal, Veronica Ferres, and Journey to the Center of the Earth's Anita Briem.
A new trailer has been released for the thriller, which has to do with the environment, specifically volcanoes, a subject that has long been a favorite of Herzog's and will be seen in his upcoming documentary, Into the Inferno. Here's the synopsis:
The United Nations has sent a scientific delegation, led by researchers Laura (Veronica Ferres) and Fabio (Gael García Bernal), to investigate rare South American geological formations. But as soon as they land, the crew is kidnapped by minions of rogue businessman Matt Riley (Michael Shannon), who has his own agenda when it comes to environmental protection. Deep inside his compound, Laura becomes separated from her fellow explorers and drawn deeper into Riley’s world, but try as she might, she can’t predict his final plan.
Salt and Fire will release stateside next year, but don't expect a wide theatrical run. In France it will open in a couple of months on December 7th.
