X
- 2016
- R
- Magnolia Pictures
- 1 h 45 m
- 2016
- R
- Magnolia Pictures
- 1 h 45 m
Summary Nestled in Norway's Sunnmøre region, Geiranger is one of the most spectacular tourist draws on the planet. With the mountain Åkerneset overlooking the village — and constantly threatening to collapse into the fjord — it is also a place where cataclysm could strike at any moment. After putting in several years at Geiranger's warning cente...
Directed By: Roar Uthaug
- 2016
- R
- Magnolia Pictures
- 1 h 45 m
- 2016
- R
- Magnolia Pictures
- 1 h 45 m
The Wave
68
6.3
Where to Watch
Summary Nestled in Norway's Sunnmøre region, Geiranger is one of the most spectacular tourist draws on the planet. With the mountain Åkerneset overlooking the village — and constantly threatening to collapse into the fjord — it is also a place where cataclysm could strike at any moment. After putting in several years at Geiranger's warning cente...
Directed By: Roar Uthaug
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 26 Critic Reviews
68
73% Positive
19 Reviews
19 Reviews
23% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
4% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 26 Critic Reviews
68
73% Positive
19 Reviews
19 Reviews
23% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
4% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
The Wave, Scandinavia’s first-ever disaster film, is the polar opposite of a disaster. It’s a triumph of modest means, a tribute to the power of storytelling on a human scale.
The Wave builds up a nice bit of genuine tension and hits some surprisingly dark notes.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 65 User Ratings
6.3
57% Positive
37 Ratings
37 Ratings
32% Mixed
21 Ratings
21 Ratings
11% Negative
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 65 User Ratings
6.3
57% Positive
37 Ratings
37 Ratings
32% Mixed
21 Ratings
21 Ratings
11% Negative
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
It is uncharacteristically rare for the disaster genre to be chosen as the main topic for a foreign language film, but it is to the credit of the Wave that the result still oozes all the style and class that the best foreign language films have. The film takes a formulaic scenario, a mountain slide that threatens to cause a tsunami in the Norwegian fjords, but is engagingly played from the get go. Director Roar Uthaug keeps the pace energetic and with the help of some really snappy editing keeps the tension building right through to the somewhat conventional ending. The film is strong in the areas of sound and music and the wave special effects are stunningly realised. Following the Tsunami the cinematography also comes into its own including some tense underwater sequences.
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The Wave, directed by Roar Uthaug, is pretty good. It’s also pretty strange. At least for American viewers – and Norwegians, too? – experiencing all these familiar disaster movie tropes in a Scandinavian setting, even on a relatively low budget, can be weirdly disorienting.
The Wave adds credible writing and effective acting to gangbusters special effects, resulting in a white-knuckle experience a bit higher on the plausibility scale than what we're used to from Hollywood versions of the genre.
The Wave, competent as it is, lacks the heart-rending power of the similar 2012 tsunami movie “The Impossible.”
To have seen a disaster movie before is to have seen The Wave. But if there’s not necessarily anything remarkable or new about the film, Uthaug finds ways to make the familiar immediate, with a fraction of the money usually involved.
It sketches an imperiled family worth caring about, but any goodwill is soon weathered by wave after wave of contrivance following the initial town-leveling event.
its a simple decent disaster movie good special effects (even with the budget it had).
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They expected it, but never prepared for it.
This is the latest natural disaster flick from the Norway. About an inland tsunami that caused due to the landslide near the lake that based around the mountains. Kind of fresh in that perspective, because as far I remember I haven't seen a movie evolve in this theme which is only a slightly differs from water reservoir burst and flood accidental concepts.
It's definitely a good watch, something I learnt from the Norwegian side of strategy to tackle the natural disasters. But the film was about what happens when you know the dangers and for some reason fail to the take action at the time, like maybe the human error or the negligence.
It was sent to represent the nation in the 'the best foreign film' category at the 2016 Oscars, but failed to make the progress. I kind of enjoyed it, but not that impressive other than the quality performances and the visuals. I feel the story was too short, I meant not the runtime. Technically, there was no story other than the opening few minutes.
It would have been better if it had the hard hitting emotions with the catchy lines and depth in all the main characters. Because when the film ends, you probably begin to forget it already, which usually won't happen for a Hollywood flick. That's the major difference if you compare it with the American films.
"That rock has stood for thousands of years and will stand securely for thousands more."
Okay, I agree Hollywood makes the best disaster movies. But other film industries as well catching up the trend, utilising the modern CGI and trying to match with them. Korea did the same with their first disaster film 'Tidal Wave' back in 2009. Remember this is Norways first step as well and somewhat excelled, especially in the technical area.
For unknown actors and the language, these films are restricted or depended on the domestic market only and this film did great by setting up a record for that year in the revenue. But films like these are rarely recognised in the international arena, other than by the critics through film festivals. What I think is they need to improve by commercialising the overall product a bit if they want the international market like once again saying what the Korean film industry did.
It opens with a simple drama that centres around a family from a small town who're facing the usual family issue. At the end of the first half, the disaster strikes, which was just around the 5 minutes. So you are going to miss those Hollywood propaganda like ships capsized or the falling ****. The usage of graphics were limited, but the later scenes were green screen shots. So I warn you to keep your expectations low.
The next half was the aftermath of the calamity where the people go look for their beloved ones. But it focused only the one family, and their involvement, which is more or less similar to 'The Impossible'. The supporting characters are the weak point in the entire narrative. One of the few things I like about this film was this one looks more natural and realistic.
I won't officially declare it a must see, it was not bad either. You might like it more than me. The movie is worth a watch other than often you encounter the influence of other flicks. You can't complain for those, basically, they are like a blueprint for a theme like this. If you're able to comply with pouring clichés, you could have a good time with it, in my opinion.
6.5/10
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It’s disaster movie loosely based on facts that a few Norwegian towns located in picturesque fjords were destroyed by rock-slide caused tsunamis in the 20th century.
The movie was competing for Oscar in the Best Foreign Movies category.
Every cliche on the books for disaster movies was present in this film.
People’s actions seem to be unreasonable and fake.
Aftermath scenes cheesy and artificial.
Cinematography deserves a credit, but was the only thing I enjoyed in this film.
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Formulaic disaster movie. Its slightly different than Hollywood disaster movies because of Norwegian culture, but all the essential elements of Hollywood movies are there. Happy ending, a strong loving family, courage by the masses in the face of dangers. lots of very sappy sentimental scenes.
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Why are they making more disaster movies? Are they trying to get more money from the visual effects they give to the audience? We just had the Fifth Wave and now this? Why, Hollywood, why!?!?!?!?!?! You guys already had enough money. Stop this at once!
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Production Company
Fantefilm,
Film Fund FUZZ,
Film i Väst,
Seven Film Romania
Release Date Mar 4, 2016
Duration 1 h 45 m
Rating R
Tagline It was only a matter of time.
Awards
Kosmorama, Trondheim Internasjonale Filmfestival
• 4 Wins & 7 Nominations
Amanda Awards, Norway
• 3 Wins & 6 Nominations
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 1 Nomination
