Water-related disasters are among the most archetypal of all catastrophes. While earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are not universal, floods and tsunamis are familiar to people in nearly every part of the world. We have put together a list of seven films about tsunamis and floods, each offering a unique perspective on human resilience and survival.
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Tidal Wave
IMDb: 5.5/10
2009, Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
South Korea, R
Director: JK Youn
Top cast: Kim Yoo-jung, Ha Ji-Won, Lee Min-ki
Scientist Kim Hwi is concerned about the possibility of a powerful tsunami hitting South Korea. He tries to warn the authorities, but no one believes him. Man Sik looks after his orphaned neighbor, the local administration attempts to buy fishing shops to develop a tourist area, and the quarrelsome Kim Hi-mi flirts with a modest lifeguard. Meanwhile, underground tremors are detected in the Sea of Japan, signaling that a wave will eventually reach Busan. Director JK Youn focuses first on developing the characters and their personal struggles, gradually leading viewers to the tsunami to show how the disaster impacts relationships between people.
The Wave
IMDb: 6.6/10
2015, Action, Drama, Thriller
Norway, Sweden, R
Director: Roar Uthaug
Top cast: Kristoffer Joner, Ane Dahl Torp, Jonas Hoff Oftebro
Geologist Kristian lives with his family in one of Norway’s most beautiful places – the village of Geiranger. Tourists flock here to admire the stunning fjords. For many years, Kristian and his colleagues have monitored the mountains, which have cracks in their slopes. If a section of rock falls into the water, it could trigger a massive wave that might wipe out the entire village. Today is Kristian’s last day on the job, as he has accepted a new position with an oil company and plans to move. During this shift, however, the sensors in the mountain are giving off strange and alarming readings.
Flood
IMDb: 4.8/10
2007, Action, Drama, Thriller
UK, South Africa, Canada, TV-14
Director: Tony Mitchell
Top cast: Robert Carlyle, Jessalyn Gilsig, Tom Courtenay
A hurricane is moving from the American coast toward the United Kingdom. Scotland has already been hit hard, with many homes flooded and casualties reported, while meteorologists remain uncertain about the storm’s next path. The Thames Barrier is being prepared for closure to prevent a large wave from flooding London. Scientists are double-checking their data and hoping for the best, but Leonard Morrison is preparing for the worst. According to his calculations, the storm is headed straight for densely populated areas, and the barrier may not withstand the pressure because it was built in the wrong location.
Bait
IMDb: 5.2/10
2012, Action, Fantasy, Horror
Australia, Singapore, China, R
Director: Kimble Rendall
Top cast: Xavier Samuel, Sharni Vinson, Adrian Pang
Josh was working as a lifeguard at the beach when, one sunny day, a shark killed his friend Rory. After the tragedy, Josh broke up with his girlfriend Tina, Rory’s sister, and took a job at a supermarket. A year later, Josh and Tina unexpectedly run into each other at the store and are not pleased about the reunion. During this awkward encounter, an earthquake suddenly hits, followed by a tsunami that crashes into the coastal town. The survivors, including Josh, Tina, and her new fiancé, find themselves trapped in the flooded supermarket. Escaping is already difficult, but the situation becomes even more dangerous when a pair of hungry great white sharks are washed into the building by the wave.
Hard Rain
IMDb: 5.9/10
1997, Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
UK, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, USA, R
Director: Mikael Salomon
Top cast: Morgan Freeman, Christian Slater, Randy Quaid
A small town is being evacuated due to flooding. Days of heavy rain have caused the local river to overflow, making it dangerous to stay. The town is completely deserted, so when an armored car gets stuck off-road, there’s no one to help. A young guard, Tom, and his uncle Charlie plan to abandon the car with the money because the water is rising quickly. However, they soon discover that looters have already arrived in town and are very interested in the contents of the armored car. Now, they must embark on the most dangerous adventure of their lives. The film was shot on large-scale sets built in a 200-meter-long water tank, roughly the size of two football fields. The town’s streets, cemetery, and other locations were constructed in this tank, and during filming, all the sets had to be constantly drenched with rain.
Geostorm
IMDb: 5.3/10
2017, Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
USA, Hong Kong, Japan, UAE, PG-13
Director: Dean Devlin
Top cast: Gerard Butler, Jim Sturgess, Abbie Cornish
The world was on the brink of destruction due to a series of natural disasters. To save humanity, a satellite system called Dutchman was created to control the weather. However, after some time, the system starts to malfunction. The government turns to the system’s creator, scientist Jake Lawson, who was previously dismissed for violating protocol. Geostorm is memorable not for its plot, but for its top cast, thrilling action, and stunning visuals thanks to its expensive special effects.
Fukushima
IMDb: 6.1/10
2020, Action, Drama, Thriller
Japan, Hong Kong, TV-PG
Director: Setsurô Wakamatsu
Top cast: Ken Watanabe, Takumi Saitô, Hidetaka Yoshioka
On March 11, 2011, the strongest earthquake in Japan’s history struck off the coast of Honshu Island. This was followed by a tsunami that hit the coast, including the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The plant lost power, rendering all sensor readings unavailable, leaving workers uncertain if the reactor was cooling. When they finally managed to assess the plant’s technical condition, they found that the pressure in one of the units was exceeding all permissible limits. To prevent a catastrophe, it was urgently necessary to reduce the pressure manually. Six volunteers stepped forward for this perilous mission. Setsuro Wakamatsu’s drama is based on Ryusho Kadota’s documentary book, which includes interviews with a hundred participants involved in the Fukushima disaster response.
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