Kim Byung-woo’s “The Great Flood”
Movie review by Dennis D. McDonald
There’s obviously a ton of green screen used in this very water-soaked film. But, I could not help but wonder at the grit and fortitude of the cast for how they tolerated working in such wet conditions.
Kim Da-mi hits the ball out of the park as her character struggles to survive with a 6 year old son as floods, tsunamis, and rapidly rising waters force her--and everyone else--to higher levels in Seoul’s jungle of modern high rise apartments.
Yet, what starts as a garden variety special-effects-heavy end-of-the world extravaganza gradually morphs into something else. Eventually we see elements of time-travel, multiple dimensions, AI, and even space travel interwoven with what began as a straightforward popcorn flick about mass human extinction.
Thankfully, I have a pretty high level of tolerance for ambiguity. I prefer not to overthink movies like this. Sit back and relax. Enjoy how star Kim Da-mi, so impressive in Nine Puzzles, literally stays afloat despite increasingly noticeable changes to the numbers displayed on her soggy t-shirt!
Review copyright 2026 by Dennis D. McDonald
