Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
On Haeundae Beach, a guilt-ridden fisherman takes care of a woman whose father accidentally got killed. A scientist reunites with his ex-wife and a daughter who doesn't even remember his face. And a poor rescue worker falls in love with a rich city girl. When they all find out a gigantic tsunami will hit the beach, they realize they only have 10 minutes to escape.
Tidal Wave (Haeundae) is a solid Korean disaster blockbuster that blends melodramatic character threads with spectacular practical and CGI tsunami sequences. The plot is formulaic disaster-movie fare — multiple intertwining storylines converging at the moment of catastrophe, with stock archetypes (guilt-ridden fisherman, estranged scientist, comic relief rescue worker). Acting is competent and emotionally committed by the ensemble, with Sol Kyung-gu anchoring the drama. Cinematography handles the beach setting and disaster sequences capably, though the CGI varies in quality. The film offers little novelty beyond being Korea's entry into the Hollywood-style disaster genre, essentially transplanting The Day After Tomorrow conventions to Busan. The ending delivers the expected emotional devastation and sacrifice typical of the genre's tearjerker tradition, executed with enough sincerity to land reasonably well.