“Even zero stars seems generous.” This is the overwhelming feeling surrounding online The Great Flooda new South Korean disaster film released on Netflix that has quickly become the target of widespread backlash for its baffling plot and questionable direction.
Directed by Kim Byung Woo, known for the much maligned adaptation of Omniscient reader, The Great Flood promised a high-stakes survival story set during a catastrophic flood in Seoul. With top-notch talents like Kim Da Mi and Park Hae Soo leading the cast, expectations were high. Unfortunately, the reality left viewers shocked for all the wrong reasons.
The film opens with a dramatic sequence in which a colossal flood submerges the skyscrapers of Seoul, trapping the residents. Rather than remaining rooted in a realistic survival drama, the narrative quickly takes a wild turn into bizarre sci-fi territory. Audiences were left scratching their heads as the story devolved into an incoherent blend of pseudo-scientific mumbo jumbo and emotional manipulation.
On platforms like theqoo, netizens have harshly criticized the film’s disjointed editing and lack of narrative logic. “It felt like the director was trying to make his version of Interstellarbut I just couldn’t do it,” one commenter noted. Others criticized the story for treating viewers as if they had no intelligence and no offer “Zero depth and maximum confusion”.
The script was also criticized for its outdated and melodramatic narrative. Instead of delivering genuine emotional impact, the film resorts to clichéd tear-jerking scenes that feel forced and hollow. Particularly offensive to many was the way a child character was used as an emotional crutch, serving more as a burden than a compelling presence. “Was the guy supposed to be a punching bag for everyone’s emotions?” an onlooker asked angrily.
Despite the overwhelming negativity, some light has shone through: Kim Da Mi and Park Hae Soo’s performances have been praised for their emotional depth and sincerity. Yet not even stellar acting could save what many are calling the worst Korean film of 2025.
Netizens did not hold back in their condemnation:
“The director should seriously consider a new career.”
“The plot gets 0. It’s not a disaster movie; it’s a disaster movie.”
“The acting was decent, which only made the bad writing more painful.”
“I usually cry at emotional scenes. This time I just sat there like a stone.”
“Was the child character written just to be annoying?”
The film’s release reignited frustration over Kim Byung Woo’s handling of the source material, with many fans still bitter over his controversial changes in the film. Omniscient reader. What is most surprising is this The Great Flood it was reportedly completed first Omniscient reader but shelved for unclear reasons, creating even more confusion as to who gave the green light to this project.
As 2025 comes to a close, The Great Flood has sadly become an apt metaphor for a year that many K-cinema fans would rather forget. With two consecutive flops, Kim Byung Woo’s credibility as a director is under intense scrutiny. If anything, this debacle highlights the urgent need for bold yet coherent storytelling in Korean cinema moving forward.
Sources: kenh14
