The Quake takes place in Oslo, Norway, three years after the initial wave tragedy in the film series. The story opens with Kristian (Kristoffer Joner), who is still trying to come to grips with what he went through before this film, in its predecessor, The Wave. Julia, his daughter, is desperately seeking his attention. Idun, the love of Kristian’s life, is trying to open her heart back up to him. And of course, all of them are about to have their lives turned sideways. Mother nature is definitely shaking it up a notch in this massive earthquake thriller.
Immediately you see how much the tsunami took a toll on Kristian (Kristoffer Joner). He’s bearded, worn and tattered. He’s been estranged from his family for some time, but the looming possibility of a major earthquake snaps him back to his senses and brings him back into their lives once more.
When his friend dies a questionable death in a tunnel, he begins to ask questions. Kristian was sent a care package from that same dead colleague, before his death, foretelling of an imminent earthquake that he suspected was about to hit Oslo. Kristian decides to visit his home to see if there is more information there and finds a treasure trove of data leading to more and more cookie crumbs that prove the inevitability of the coming quake. Of course, no one believes him when he tries to warn people.
Like a rollercoaster, The Quake is slow to climb into action, but once it does there is no stopping it. When the power goes out city-wide the ominous precipice to destruction and devastation shifts into full gear.
The acting by Kristoffer Joner (Kristian) and Ane Dahl Torp (Idun) is genuine and natural. There is nothing forced about either performance. Each does an outstanding job bringing their characters to life. The entire cast really does a great job portraying their characters, giving the film a believable stew of personalities and circumstances from the beginning to the end. The script was well written and thought out – staying true to how real people communicate and behave (something you don’t see a lot of these days).
Characters aside, the music score stays in tune with the heartbeat of the movie. It does a great job setting the tone and keeping you anxious – but just enough – so you can’t stop watching. Soon the quake makes its entrance on screen and chaos ensues, from erupting hills to crumbling buildings. Zero gravity is not something one should experience in a plummeting elevator! Just saying. Although, it did look like it must have been fun to shoot.
At this point, the beloved family that survived the Wave is now thrown right into the middle of another seemingly hopeless nightmare. Trapped, scattered and separated they have to fight to survive on their own. Each circumstance as terrifying as the next. The terror doesn’t stop just because the earthquake does either. It will make you think twice about going to the top of any high rise any time soon.
The cinematography is fantastic, with daunting angles accompanied by mood lighting that adds to the chaotic ambiance. The desperation and devastation are captured on camera perfectly.
As the film progresses more and more to its end you have to wonder if the family will be as lucky this time around as they were when they survived the Wave. One thing that annoyed me was the lack of warning people were given even though they had a little time to put out a warning. Makes you think, are all people in emergency services that dumb? Let’s hope not.
The Quake’s story remained strong to the end. Something refreshingly real. It may be a movie with subtitles, but you won’t notice it. Goes to show you, you don’t need a blockbuster budget to create a blockbuster.
Make sure you take the time to watch this one. The Quake is available in theaters and on demand December 14. Yes, you can watch it at home. Yay! Trust me, you won’t want to miss one earth-shattering moment. Love it!
5 out of 5 stars.
I write like I think—fast, curious, and a little feral. I chase the weird, the witty, and the why-is-this-happening-now. From AI meltdowns to fashion glow-ups, if it makes you raise an eyebrow or rethink your algorithm, I’m probably writing about it. Expect sharp takes, occasional sarcasm, and zero tolerance for boring content.
