Nerds That Geek Movie Review: 'Metal Tornado'

Written by Scott Edwards

Clean energy is something that the entire world has been trying to harness for years. A way to keep our costs down along with the pollution that humans cause on a daily basis seems to the key to keeping the planet healthy and alive for the future. Although it seems like nothing can replace our cars, our gas powered stoves or energy that is provided by the burning of coal, it is a hope to cut these consumptions down drastically in the near future.

At Helios World, the goal is to harness the power of solar flares and store it in large batteries under the earth’s surface. Being able to capture the power of these flares is one thing, but transporting that energy from space back down to the earth is something else that takes many talented minds. Using the power of magnetism, the group has come up with a process that should be efficient and harmless to the environment.  

Running simulations for months leading up to the big event, Doctor Michael Edwards and his girlfriend Rebecca have confidence in the process and are ready to make history. With their leader Jonathan Kane pushing the group at every point in the process to make this a profitable venture, he will not allow for any type of failure. As the first download of solar flare power is moved to the earth’s surface, a small glitch takes place causing a minimal loss of two percent of the total energy to be lost.

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Although the loss of energy is well within acceptable parameters, Michael and Rebecca need to find out for themselves where it went. Fifteen miles away from the Helios facility a small gas station is hit with an event that drags everything metal in one direction. Shortly after the event hit, it dissipated, but it has left everyone shaken up and the surrounding area polarized. Michael and Rebecca arrive at the scene and come up with a theory that it could have to do with the missing power from their download. Not being able to prove anything, they need to find a way to track the anomaly and save everyone in its path.

With their boss Jonathan not wanting to hear about the possible problem at hand and only focusing on the financial upside of what the group has accomplished, he will stop Michael and Rebecca from blowing the whistle on the project. With the second solar flare download only a few hours away, and taking place in France, Michael has to find a way to change his boss’ mind about going forward with the project. As more and more strange occurrences start to take place in the town and metal is being pulled into a magnetic vortex, the anomaly is starting to move towards more populated areas and could cause the loss of human life on a catastrophic level.

This is just a fun ride as you get to see what the risks and benefits are of trying to harness clean energy from space. Although all of the methods the group uses in the movie have been simulated and tested, they never thought that a loss of energy could create something so destructive. Putting their priorities first on saving lives is touching and seeing how the money man will not put the brakes on the project is what adds the real life feeling into this movie. Which is more important to you in a disaster? Saving lives or making money?  ​

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