Daylight (1996) – A Classic ’90s Disaster Flick with Grit, Tension, and Heroism
Genre: Action / Adventure / Thriller
Director: Rob Cohen
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Amy Brenneman, Viggo Mortensen, Dan Hedaya

Daylight is a quintessential ’90s disaster thriller that throws its characters—and its audience—into a claustrophobic nightmare beneath the Hudson River. When a massive explosion seals off both ends of a busy tunnel, a group of survivors must fight for their lives in the darkness, struggling against rising water, collapsing structures, and their own fears.

At the heart of the chaos is Kit Latura (Sylvester Stallone), a former emergency services chief turned disgraced hero, who finds himself drawn back into action. With the odds stacked against him, Latura descends into the crumbling tunnel to guide the survivors to safety, battling both physical dangers and emotional burdens.

Stallone plays it restrained and human, grounding the film with a performance that emphasizes leadership and quiet strength over action-hero bravado. Amy Brenneman brings depth as a troubled playwright thrust into survival mode, while Viggo Mortensen leaves a memorable mark as an extreme sports entrepreneur with his own take on heroism.

Director Rob Cohen captures the danger and scale of the disaster with impressive practical effects and a gritty atmosphere. The tension rarely lets up, and the film relies on old-school suspense—tight spaces, flickering lights, and the creaks of metal under pressure—more than CGI spectacle.

While Daylight follows many of the genre’s familiar beats, it does so with sincerity and a focus on human resilience. It’s not just about explosions or stunts; it’s about the will to survive and the courage to lead others out of the dark.

A solid, underrated entry in the disaster film canon, Daylight is a tense, well-crafted ride that delivers thrills with heart and heat.