Journey to the Center of the Earth

The film never explicitly reveals who poisoned Göteborg with potassium cyanide, but it strongly implies Count Saknussemm was responsible. Saknussemm had been following both expeditions and had a clear motive: to eliminate anyone who might reach the Earth's core before him. The poisoning occurred while Göteborg was alone in his cellar, and Saknussemm had both the opportunity and the means to commit the murder without being detected.

Count Saknussemm killed Gertrud out of hunger and desperation. After being forced to join the expedition against his will, Saknussemm had limited access to food during their underground journey. When the group stopped to rest near the underground sea, he seized the opportunity to kill and eat Gertrud, the duck, to survive. This act of desperation revealed his lawless, survivalist nature and deepened the conflict between him and Hans, who was particularly devoted to Gertrud.

The group escaped the underground sea by building a raft to cross the vast subterranean lake, narrowly surviving an attack by dimetrodons. When their raft became trapped in a whirlpool, they fought to free themselves and reached the opposite shore. Later, when trapped by a rock barrier, Lindenbrook used gunpowder left by Saknussemm to blast through the obstacle, and they escaped aboard a sacrificial altar bowl as lava erupted beneath them, carrying them upward to the surface.

Earlier, the group constructed a raft to navigate the underground sea, establishing their resourcefulness in facing subterranean challenges.

Count Saknussemm was crushed to death by a massive boulder cascade. After killing Gertrud, Hans confronted Saknussemm in a fit of rage. During their confrontation, the cavern ceiling gave way, and a large boulder fell onto Saknussemm, killing him instantly. His death served as both poetic justice for his crimes and a plot convenience that removed the antagonist from the story before the final escape.

Saknussemm shot Alec because he refused to become his servant. When Alec accidentally separated from the group and encountered Saknussemm, the count ordered Alec to take the place of his deceased servant who had died during Saknussemm's previous expedition. When Alec refused, Saknussemm shot him in the arm. The gunshot alert allowed Lindenbrook and the others to locate them, leading to Saknussemm's capture and forced inclusion in the expedition.

Carla joined the expedition after learning the truth about her husband Göteborg's death. Initially distrustful of Lindenbrook, she became convinced that Count Saknussemm was responsible for poisoning Göteborg. Seeking justice and determined to protect her late husband's legacy, she allied with Lindenbrook, bringing essential equipment including Ruhmkorff lamps. Her motivation was both personal revenge against Saknussemm and a desire to complete the scientific expedition her husband had started.

The volcanic rock contained a hidden message from Arne Saknussemm, the 18th-century scientist who had previously journeyed to the Earth's core. The inscription provided clues and coordinates pointing to the Snæfellsjökull volcano in Iceland as the entrance to a passage leading to the Earth's center. This mysterious token served as the catalyst for the entire expedition, as Lindenbrook and Alec deciphered its contents and decided to retrace Saknussemm's legendary journey.

The explorers discovered Atlantis after escaping the whirlpool and continuing their journey deeper underground. Following Saknussemm's death beneath the boulder, the group moved through the caverns and stumbled upon ancient ruins submerged beneath the Earth's surface. Among the ruins, they found the skeletal remains of the original Arne Saknussemm, confirming his successful descent centuries earlier and providing evidence of the legendary lost city of Atlantis.

Lindenbrook used gunpowder left behind by Count Saknussemm to blast through the rock barrier blocking their escape route. Recognizing the danger of the volatile volcanic environment and needing a quick solution, he rigged the gunpowder to create an explosion that would break through the obstruction. This desperate plan succeeded, though it triggered a chain reaction of lava rising through the cavern, forcing the group to flee on a massive sacrificial bowl as the eruption carried them toward the surface.

The group had previously used Saknussemm's belongings and supplies throughout their journey, establishing that his equipment would prove useful despite his antagonistic nature.

Count Saknussemm believed he was entitled to reach the Earth's core because he was a descendant of Arne Saknussemm, the original explorer who had discovered the passage centuries earlier. He viewed the journey as his birthright and sought to complete what his ancestor had started. This sense of entitlement, combined with his ruthless survivalist mindset, drove him to eliminate rivals, including poisoning Göteborg and shooting Alec, to ensure he would be the first to reach the core.

Lindenbrook lamented the loss of their documented evidence because the expedition's scientific findings, observations, and specimens were destroyed during their harrowing escape. Despite successfully reaching the surface and returning to Edinburgh as heroes, Lindenbrook recognized that without physical proof of their discoveries, including Atlantis and the underground sea, their journey would be viewed as mere legend rather than verified scientific achievement. He encouraged future explorers to continue the work, knowing their own documentation was lost to the lava.

After returning to Edinburgh, Alec McEwan found happiness with Jenny, implying a romantic conclusion to his storyline. Meanwhile, Professor Lindenbrook shared a heartfelt moment with Carla, hinting at a blossoming romance between them. Carla's initial distrust of Lindenbrook had evolved into respect and affection during their shared ordeal, suggesting a promising future together as they processed their traumatic yet victorious journey.