So, let’s talk about The Wave.
The Wave is a Norwegian disaster film, discovered on Netflix, which I was pleasantly surprised to find was actually a good disaster movie.
First things first, I strongly suggest you watch this movie with the original Norwegian audio track and English subtitles. The English dubbed version automatically started and was so bad that I nearly stopped watching entirely.
The Wave is a tsunami disaster movie, but it is unique in that it isn’t an oceanic wave rather it is the threat of a landslide caused tsunami in a fjord! How cool is that? For me, that’s pretty cool.
The film begins by introducing us to the geologist Kristian as he prepares his family to move to the big city. Not only will they be leaving their small fjord community, but Kristian will also be leaving behind the mountain that he has monitored for years.
And as the head geologist/scientist, Arvid, says,
These mountains… once they grab you, they never let go.
Strange things begin to happen on the mountain, lowered water levels and contracting crevices, none of which are clear indicators that a landslide is imminent, but Kristian is on edge about it nonetheless. As most natural disaster movies go, things escalate and part of the mountainside gives way, crashing with relentless force into the water below and throwing an enormous wave racing through the fjord towards the small town of Geiranger.
As the 85+ meter high tsunami crashes through the fjord, the siren to evacuate is activated and residents begin the harrowing race to get high enough that they can escape the deadly wave. They only have 2 minutes.
Kristian is forced to choose between trying to save his wife and son or ensuring that his daughter is safe. When his wife reassures him that she will get herself and Sondre to safety, Kristian begins the drive up the mountainside. As you can imagine, the road quickly becomes congested and Kristian takes his daughter and convinces others to abandon their cars and run for their lives.
Only a portion of the community is able to make it to safety and the destruction that the tsunami leaves in its wake is reminiscent of a war zone or post apocalyptic scene. Having been swept along with the wave, Kristian finds himself surrounded by destroyed cars and buildings and the bodies of those who didn’t get out of reach of the powerful wave.
Knowing that his daughter is safe, Kristian must now attempt to locate his wife and son. With the waters receding, you’d think things would be safe… but that is where you’d be wrong and that is where I’m going to let you discover how this movie ends. ;P
Disliked: Everything about the English dubbed version.
In Conclusion: The Wave is a really good disaster movie, but it is also a really good story about family and how, even when you aren’t happy with one another, you’d still risk anything for those you love.
Meandering Michelle 