Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Although theorised, no one is really ready when a mountain pass above the scenic and narrow Geiranger fjord in Norway collapses and creates a tsunami over 300 feet high. A geologist is one of those caught in the middle of it.
The Wave is a competent Scandinavian disaster film that largely follows genre conventions but executes them with above-average craft. The cinematography stands out as genuinely exceptional, capturing the dramatic Norwegian fjord landscape and the terrifying tsunami sequence with visceral impact. The plot hits familiar disaster-movie beats — the prescient scientist ignored by authorities, family in peril — without much deviation. Acting is solid and grounded by European restraint, lending more credibility than typical Hollywood equivalents. Novelty is modest: the Norwegian setting and production culture give it a distinct flavour compared to American blockbusters, but structurally it's well-worn territory. The ending resolves safely and predictably, offering little emotional or narrative surprise beyond standard survival-movie closure.