The Great Flood

That kid was dumb as fuggg

Conceptually, this movie should have been an easy win for me. A disaster movie mixed with science fiction, a mysterious mission, and the future of humanity at stake? That is exactly the kind of movie I would normally enjoy. The idea was definitely there, and the opening disaster sequences were intense enough to keep me interested. Unfortunately, the execution became so complicated and messy that I started questioning why I had chosen to watch it in the first place.

The movie begins like a straightforward survival thriller, but then suddenly turns into a much more confusing and philosophical sci-fi story. I appreciate that it tried to explore bigger ideas about artificial intelligence, emotions, motherhood, and the bond between a parent and child. However, it felt like the movie was trying to fit too many concepts into one story without giving them enough time to develop properly. Some scenes were genuinely interesting, especially toward the ending, but other parts felt repetitive, rushed, and unnecessarily difficult to follow.

And I am sorry, but why was that kid so unbelievably stupid? Seriously, he might be one of the dumbest children I have ever seen in a sci-fi movie. I understand that children can panic and make irrational decisions during dangerous situations, but some of his choices were so frustrating that I wanted to enter the screen and drag him to safety myself. Overall, the movie had an ambitious concept, strong visuals, and an interesting twist, but the confusing storytelling and that extremely annoying child made it much harder for me to enjoy.

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Artificial Intelligence, Nature, and the Question of Creation in The Great Flood

The Great Flood begins in media res. The viewer is thrown into the chaos and, throughout the film, is given very little exposition about the characters or the incidents that shape the story. This is a clever way of introducing a world that feels dreamlike, especially in its sense of beginning and creation, an origin that remains unknown and unstable.

While the film is not as bad as many disappointed viewers have claimed, largely because its title subverts genre-expectations, it does also have its weaknesses.

Overall, it is a solid movie that engages with contemporary social and cultural concerns, particularly questions of creation, whether through technological advancement such as artificial intelligence or through natural reproduction. The film therefore functions as an allegory. It reflects on the creation of the world, its mutability, and the connections between different systems of cause and effect. Yet it remains unclear whether AI represents progress, or whether natural processes such as DNA and genetics are the true forces driving advancement.

Throughout the movie, the viewer repeatedly encounters different numbers attached to the protagonist, suggesting multiple attempts, alternative outcomes, and repeated chances that all converge on the same goal of creation. Although AI appears to be the primary means of achieving this goal, the film includes two moments that emphasize the significance of family bonds. In both instances, the flood recedes and sunlight emerges, visually linking nature and humanity and suggesting an ecological vision of coexistence.

As a Korean film, the allegory may also allude to the country’s declining birth rates and the broader social hesitation toward forming families. This is a theme worth reflecting on, and although the film could have developed these ideas more fully, it still offers a thoughtful and engaging perspective.

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This movie is a lot to process

Before I get into anything else, I have to talk about the cinematography of this movie! The cinematography in this movie is what stood out the best to me. It was incredible! So many of the shots were really creative and I always love to see that! I was blown away by it.

Onto the plot and acting.
The acting was great. I loved seeing Park Hee-Soo because I didn't know he was even in this to be honest, so I was really happy to see him! I loved his character as well as An-Na's. I think they were both complex characters which was really nice.

The plot is...a lot to take in. It starts off as your typical survival disaster thriller, which I love, and that was really great. I liked that there were only a few minutes of calm before the disaster hit. No wasted time that way since it dove right in. Then comes the confusing parts of this movie. It drifts away from being a disaster flood film and is suddenly about how the population is close to gone and needs to be saved using technology.
I understand that all the looping were different outcomes of her trying and retrying the disaster to get a different answer. I also understand that she as well as Ja-In are already dead before the movie even started. I understand what's going on in this movie, but I'd be lying if I said I think it was executed perfectly. It wasn't badly executed but the way they did was also just very confusing as it was happening. After I finished it and sat with it for a few minutes, it was clearer but still not great.

Looking at other reviews, I see a lot of people are in the same boat of just being really confused with the movie overall. Whether it's because of all the loops and crazy plotline, or simply because they thought it was going to be a disaster movie and then it turned into something else seemingly out of nowhere. I appreciate that this movie took a different turn that your typical disaster movie, but I just don't know how well it played out. Maybe on a rewatch it would be easier to figure out, and notice details you can't the first time around.

Even after writing this, I'm unsure about my rating.

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Released worldwide by Netflix on December 19, 2025, the South Korean film "The Great Flood" (Daehongsu), directed by Kim Byung-woo (The Terror Live), is one of the most ambitious and divisive productions of the year.

Although the trailer and title suggest a conventional disaster film (in the style of 2012 or The Day After Tomorrow), the work is actually an existentialist science fiction thriller that uses a "time loop" to explore artificial intelligence.

1. Synopsis and the Big Twist

The plot begins with An-na (played by the excellent Kim Da-mi), an AI researcher, desperately trying to save her son Ja-in from an apartment building being submerged by an apocalyptic tsunami. She receives help from Hee-jo (Park Hae-soo, from Round 6), a security agent with mysterious motivations.

The Twist (Mild Spoiler): The film reveals that the disaster we are witnessing is not immediate physical reality, but rather a computer simulation repeated thousands of times. An-na's research aims to "teach" real human emotions to an AI so that humanity's consciousness can be preserved in synthetic bodies after Earth's extinction.

2. Strengths: The Visual and Technical Spectacle

Aquatic Realism: The work with practical effects and CGI is impressive. The feeling of claustrophobia inside the flooded building and the force of the water are palpable and distressing. Performances: Kim Da-mi carries the emotional weight of the film, delivering an exhausted yet resilient performance that keeps the audience engaged, even when the plot becomes confusing.

Genre Innovation: Director Kim Byung-woo defies expectations by transforming an action film into a philosophical meditation on what makes us human (the "emotional engine").

3. Criticism and Controversy

The film's reception was mixed due to its complexity:

"Bait and Switch": Many viewers felt misled by the marketing, expecting a linear survival film and receiving a dense plot about transhumanism and time loops.

Fragmented Narrative: The repetitive structure (the loop) can be tiring. The film demands total attention to detail to understand which "version" of the simulation we are in.

Scientism vs. Emotion: Critics point out that, in its effort to appear intellectually profound, the script sometimes loses the simple emotional connection that the disaster subgenre usually offers.

Expectation vs. Reality
What the trailer promises What the film delivers
Global disaster film Psychological thriller in a confined location
Fight against nature Fight against human obsolescence
Frenetic action Cerebral and repetitive science fiction

Final Verdict

"Daehongsu" is a film for those who enjoy complex science fiction like Interstellar or Dark. If you're only looking for adrenaline and collapsing buildings, you might be disappointed by the second half. It's a film about memory and the human capacity to love, even when the world (or the code) is crumbling.

Interesting Note: The film ends with a post-credits scene that suggests the fate of "New Humanity" in space, raising ethical debates about whether AI clones can truly replace the human race.

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Pretty Average, entertaining enough

My mom recommended this one to me so I didn’t know what to expect.
The movie itself isn’t bad per se but it was pretty confusing. It kinda borders between being like interstellar mixed with K-Movie Wonderland… I can definitely see an attempt there.

I think majority of the movie kinda failed at showing you what exactly was happening throughout the film, until the very end where they literally say it whats happening by explaining it themselves. But I guess the fun part was also trying to guess where the plot is going.

Although I’m still confused as to why she was subjected to going through a loop of finding her son (even though it was her idea that the ideal mother will be made once she finds the son) if this experiment lasted centuries and all the humans died then how was it possible for them to be made with zero complications whatsover, especially since the first thing that happened to them once they launched into the space was getting hit by the other pods exploded particles… it all just seems a little lazily done, the world ending, robots taking over… yadda yadda.. But the movie isn’t bad so… it was pretty entertaining to watch and even the loops had me curious and wondering where the movie would ultimately lead. I genuinely thought this was going to be a typical apocalyptic movie where they try to survive the flood- but its also nice to see it be something different for once other than apocalypse! So i’m not too mad but also not mesmerised or amazed by it.

Overall a good watch. Maybe would be a bit more fun watching with someone else.

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Not for Everyone’ Is Not an Argument

When a movie defends itself with “it’s not for everyone,” it’s already in trouble.

The issue here is not ambition or complexity, but a broken narrative contract. The film promises a visceral survival experience and then abandons it midway for a conceptual twist that rewrites the rules instead of deepening them.

Confusing abstraction with depth doesn’t make a story intelligent. True depth comes from consequences, not from invalidating what the audience has already lived through.

Understanding a movie does not obligate you to praise it. And in this case, understanding the twist doesn’t improve the experience—it weakens it.

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This is one of those movies that leaves you feeling confused… and strangely affected at the same time.

This is a disaster drama that leans much more into symbolism and emotional chaos than into a logical, well-structured story. It’s less about understanding every detail and more about feeling the weight of the situation: fear, loss, helplessness, and survival. The flood itself feels almost like a metaphor for everything collapsing at once, externally and internally.

This isn’t an easy film to follow. The narrative feels fragmented, sometimes messy, and often unclear. A lot of things aren’t explained properly, and more than once I found myself lost, trying to understand what was happening and why. But the more I thought about it, the more it felt intentional.

Visually, the movie does a good job creating a heavy and oppressive atmosphere. The cinematography and sound design help sell that sense of panic and disorientation, even when the story doesn’t fully land. Some scenes are genuinely impactful, while others feel rushed or underdeveloped.

That said, this isn’t a movie for everyone. If you like clear explanations, strong narrative cohesion, and answers, this might be frustrating. For me, it was confusing, yes, but also oddly compelling. I didn’t fully understand it — and maybe that’s part of the experience.

Overall, The Great Flood is far from perfect, but it left an impression. It’s messy, symbolic, and emotionally heavy, and even though I felt a bit dumb watching it at times, I can’t say it didn’t make me feel something.

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The first half was engaging, but...

I read some reviews so I partially knew what the movie would be about before I started watching it. That's probably why I didn't have too many expectations for it.

The first half was engaging, but after the plot twist, it became predictable. Each subsequent simulation was no longer exciting. Of course, I understand what the creators might have had in mind and what they wanted to show, but I think this film doesn't capture it best.

Even Da Mi's great acting couldn't save this movie for me. But I don't mind the ending and I don't understand the difficulty in understanding this story. But I guess that also indicates poor execution.


It's not a bad movie, but it's not one of the best either. Even though I didn't have high expectations, I'm still a bit disappointed.

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