I started this movie expecting something light, but when I saw the title The Great Flood, I immediately knew I wanted to watch it.
I avoided checking the rating or reading any information before watching the movie, because I didn’t want to be influenced or prejudiced, or to see any spoiler. I let the movie surprise me.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29927663/?ref_=fn_t_1
When I realized that the movie was Korean, I had second thoughts. Don’t get me wrong, I believe Korean cinema has a very special style, often with high-quality productions and strong storytelling, but it’s usually not my personal taste. Still, I decided to give it a chance, and I’m glad I did, so that I am in the position to write this review :)
The opening scenes immediately hooked me: a mother and her young son wake up in a flooded house (3rd floor apartment) and are struggling to escape a flood. I wanted to stop watching, but I simply could not.
The storyline:
A disastrous great flood sweeps the planet. On what may be the last day on Earth, a desperate fight ensues to save a child from a flooding apartment.
My review contains as few spoilers as possible I would say almost none, so you won’t have the experience ruined—but do read on if you want an idea of whether it’s worth spending almost two hours on this film.
Initially, I thought the movie would focus on a flood disaster. I’ve personally experienced a flood a few years ago, so I knew it would affect me emotionally.
However, the story quickly evolves into something much bigger. The flood is only part of a larger disaster. From there, the movie develops into a sci-fi thriller, unfolding multiple storylines, unexpected twists, and ideas that take the plot in directions I honestly didn’t anticipate.
There were moments where my heart almost broke, and others where I felt completely confused. After the first hour, some scenes felt slow or unclear, and a few transitions were so abrupt that I had to rewind and rewatch certain parts because I genuinely felt I’d missed important information needed to understand what was happening next.
I didn’t fall asleep (wow, right?!), but the film definitely demanded constant attention. Even after it ended, I went back to rewatch a specific scene, and I still have a few unanswered questions.
The core idea behind The Great Flood is smart and ambitious. Visually, it’s impressive, with some genuinely striking graphics and well-executed disaster sequences. However, there are noticeable gaps in the storytelling. Certain plot points feel underexplained, leaving viewers with more questions than intended.
As someone who isn’t deeply familiar with Korean cinema, I suspect that regular viewers of the genre may appreciate the film more and rate it higher than I did.
After watching, I checked other reviews, and they aligned perfectly with my thoughts. Ratings range wildly from 1/10 to 9/10, and honestly, I understand all of them.
The movie is brand new and has already caught a lot of attention. I expect the rating to shift slightly over time, but I don’t see it going beyond a 6. I imagine it will remain just above 5, and that’s exactly where I’d place it.
Current rating: 5.4 / 10 (out of 5,2K reviews) - I would agree with this number
The acting was decent but I would not call it outstanding. The direction and cinematography were good, and the visual effects ranged from “nice” to impressive in some scenes.
I’d recommend The Great Flood for a mystery or movie night with friends or your partner, but please be prepared for its 1 hour and 50 minute duration and a plot that requires patience and attention.
If you decide to watch it, I would love to hear your thoughts and feelings about it.
Official Trailer
Here are a few (without spoilers) reviews that express the different dimensions of the viewers
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Thank you for your time, as always! I hope this was a useful review!