What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedUnder the Volcano
Malcolm Lowry · Book · 2023
If you loved Under the Volcano, start with Volver (Pedro Almodóvar, 2006) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Under the Volcano across media.
You are drawn to the way Under the Volcano captures the agonizing, inevitable disintegration of a psyche facing its own ruin.
Films on the same thread
Volver
Pedro Almodóvar · Film · 2006
Explores: Female relationships, Intergenerational trauma, Secrets and lies.
Like the suffocating atmosphere of Under the Volcano, this film explores the weight of the past and the resilience required to survive amidst personal and generational unraveling.
The Lost Weekend
Billy Wilder · Film · 1945
Shares a thread with Under the Volcano: Self-Destruction.
This film mirrors the relentless descent into self-destruction found in Under the Volcano, focusing on the harrowing psychological toll of addiction and the crushing weight of an existential crisis.
Casablanca
Film · 1943
Explores: Sacrifice, Moral Ambiguity, Unrequited Love.
The cynical expatriate experience and moral ambiguity present here resonate deeply with the post-colonial malaise and fatalistic tone that defined the consul's final journey in Under the Volcano.
The Wages of Fear
Film · 1953
Shares a thread with Under the Volcano: Fatalism.
The desperate, high-stakes atmosphere of this journey reflects the same existential dread and fatalism that permeates the narrative of Under the Volcano as characters face their inevitable ends.
Series on the same thread
Patrick Melrose
David Nicholls · Series · 2018
Explores: Trauma, Addiction, Upper-class dysfunction.
This odyssey through addiction and trauma echoes the deeply personal, self-destructive struggle of Geoffrey Firmin, capturing the same caustic, literary examination of a life falling apart seen in Under the Volcano.
Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair
Linwood Boomer · Series · 2026
Explores: familial obligation, generational trauma, estrangement.
While tonally distinct, the exploration of generational trauma and the inescapable pull of one's past provides a thematic bridge to the heavy, history-laden burden carried by Under the Volcano.
Twin Peaks
Mark Frost · Series · 1990
Explores: Small Town Secrets, Doppelgangers, Good vs Evil.
The surreal sense of existential dread and the unraveling of a small community reflect the haunting, dreamlike psychological descent that marks the final, fateful day in Under the Volcano.
Lord of the Flies
Jack Thorne · Series · 2026
Explores: social breakdown, loss of innocence, human nature and morality.
The rapid social breakdown and loss of innocence mirror the chaotic, tragic collapse of order often found in the psychological realism and fatalistic themes of Under the Volcano.
Podcasts on the same thread
Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra
Rachel Maddow, MS NOW · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Authoritarianism, Domestic Espionage, Threats to Democracy.
The focus on political corruption and the looming threat of authoritarianism captures the same sense of historical unease and societal decay that frames the setting of Under the Volcano.
Revolutions
Mike Duncan · Podcast · 2025
Explores: societal collapse, power dynamics, cyclical history.
The analytical focus on cyclical collapse and the repetition of human error serves as a compelling historical companion to the recurring patterns of destruction within Under the Volcano.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Under the Volcano set over a long period of time?
No, the narrative of Under the Volcano is contained within a very specific timeframe. The entire story occurs during the most fateful day of the consul Geoffrey Firmin's life, which takes place on the Day of the Dead in 1938.
Where does the story of Under the Volcano take place?
The events of Under the Volcano are set in Quauhnahuac, Mexico. This is where the protagonist, a former British consul named Geoffrey Firmin, resides while struggling with his debilitating malaise and heavy drinking throughout the narrative.
What is the significance of the setting in Under the Volcano?
The setting of Under the Volcano is crucial as it frames the protagonist's final experiences. Geoffrey Firmin is in Quauhnahuac, Mexico, on the Day of the Dead in 1938, the same day his wife, Yvonne, arrives to confront the reality of his life.
How is Under the Volcano regarded in literary history?
Under the Volcano is considered a significant work of literature. It was voted number 11 on the Modern Library 100 Best Novels list, reflecting its enduring status and critical recognition among readers and scholars alike.