WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
The course of nature. It takes on many forms, becomes an explanation for a myriad of events in life and on Earth, and seems to be one of many facets in this existence that is completely out of our control. We can monitor, research, probe, measure, even prepare for what we believe is coming, but nothing manmade can truly ready us for when it actually happens. Geologist Kristian (Kristoffer Joner) has a sense about pending disaster. Living with his wife, Idun (Ane Dahl Torp), and two children, Sondre (Jonas Hoff Oftebro) and Julia (Edith Haagenrud-Sande) near Geiranger Fjord, Norway, his diligence in the field of geology has landed him a new job elsewhere, and therefore, he prepares to move his family.
However, when initial warning signs along the mountain pass of Akneset overlooking the fjord cause Kristian to believe a long-awaited collapse and rockslide could be getting ready to occur, he continues to monitor the situation despite his now former co-workers and his family advising him to leave it alone. Frustrated with everything, then split from his wife and son over the situation, Kristian finally chooses to let the issue drop. But, Kristian’s worst fear become harshly realized as the catastrophe he predicted begins to unfold, the results of which send a massive 80-metre tsunami through the fjord and towards Geiranger. With epic damage suffered, Kristian makes a desperate play to save his family and what’s left of their town.
Next, my Mind:
With this film, his fourth overall feature effort, director Roar Uthaug attempts to accomplish something that this reviewer honestly thought wasn’t really possible–reinvent the disaster genre, at least a bit. Now, is there plenty of typical “even-film” elements to be had here, yes. The intelligent scientist who knows something’s coming but no one wants to listen to, the co-workers who just have to go check something out even when we know that’s a mistake, the realities that there will be immense chaos and destruction, and that the search for survivors and, more specifically, lost family will be paramount. This is fine, but let’s be honest, we’ve seen it a lot before. However, the simple change of venue for the story actually gives it something unique.
Being set in a small, remote town in Norway, it isn’t your standard locale for this type of narrative, and the well-executed wave strike sequence and subsequent aftermath is handled in a much more–human–way as opposed to the overtly, way over-the-top sequences in Hollywood fare (ie: “San Andreas”, “Into The Storm” Oy!). Plus, it is proof positive that the wave doesn’t have to be 1000 feet tall to be intense, scary, and relentless. Joner is adept at playing the smart but relatable Kristian, whose paranoia about the occurrence proves correct, yet his concern for the safety of his home seems more real and tangible. Likewise, Torp plays Idun with a sense of realism, too, moreso when expressing her concern about her missing son as the wave approaches, refusing to leave him, a true motherly instinct.
Overall, “The Wave” doesn’t completely redefine this rather washed up genre. But, that difference in setting and the more truthful behavior of people caught in an extreme circumstance does set the film apart enough to make it one worth considering.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
