Customer Reviews

Killer Flood: The Day the Dam Broke

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is very far from the worst of disaster flicks. It has a coherent plot, a nasty villain, and heroic though flawed heroes. One might be impelled to ask whether the effects or the talent had the lowest budget, but given that the film is pretty good.

The movie IS satisfying. It procedes from beginning to end with a rather classic inevitability. Unlike so many films in its genre, the heroes do NOT forsake their responsible positions of authority in order to perform personal quests (for examples of this, see "The Big One," "Aftershock," and "The Day After Tomorrow"--in all of these, the leading characters stop their formal functions midway in order to rescue family members).

One might question the actions of some characters (hide in a dumpster when about to be engulfed by a kazillion tons of water?), but there is a continuity of tragic inevitability throughout the proceedings. Also, the "good guys" are pretty likable. That certainly helps in the enjoyment of the movie.

For folks "into" disaster films, will say this is a must-see.

This made for TV disaster flick has all the ingredients expected:
1. Three former TV Stars (Joe Lando from DR. QUINN; Bruce Boxleitner from SCARECROW AND MRS. KING and Michelle Greene from LA LAW).
2. A corporate baddy whose greed has led to inferior construction of the dam.
3. A broken family with a father who hasn't kept in touch with his child.
4. Stubborn lawmen who answer to money.
5. Lots of oh my Goodness moments.
6. A strongwilled architect who tries to warn everyone of the impending dangers.
7. Average special effects.
But, in spite of its lack of originality, the direction and acting are good, with Greene doing a nice job as the mother/substitute mayor, etc.
A little above average for movies of this type.

I bought this DVD because Joe Lando (DQMW, Higher Ground) was in it. Anyway, the special effects is up-to-par as CGI goes. The plot stayed on course from beginning to end in that the dam is about to burst and a good guy is trying to warn and save the town, and a bad guy is being greedy for himself and not caring what happens to the people in his home town. I thought the acting was done well by all. I was not disappointed. I am pleased to see David Powell (Joe) is the hero. I am most pleased that in this movie the hero isn't portrayed as a egomaniac that no one listens too (like in many of these type of disaster movies), but instead is treated as an intelligent person. Watching Bruce Boxleitner as the big, bad, corrupt big-wheel was a treat, (although I prefer to see him as a good guy.) Michele Greene has wonderful chemistry with Joe Lando. I recommend this movie to all.

I bought this only because it said it was closed captioned and we can't watch movies with words due to hearing problems which resulted in us wasting our money on the movie.

Killer Flood: The Day the Dam Broke: 1 out of 10: Finally a movie whose title is spoiler proof. Even by the low standards of disaster movies, excuse me for a moment allow me to correct myself, even by the low standards of made for TV disaster movies this is truly awful. Where do I begin?

The dam modeler may have once seen a photo of a dam but I somewhat doubt it. Most dams, especially large ones that generate electricity, have... oh I don't know, a power plant nearby, maybe some sluice gates for water to run through, heck even a high tension electrical wire or two. This Dam would embarress a Lego knockoff toy company.

This disaster prone dam is also somewhat understaffed. Two, count them, two employees staff the entire dam. And the employees are apparently imported from a clichéd ridden World War Two film, as they heroically and rather needlessly have long eulogized death scenes complete with photos of grandchildren floating by. Heck one of them manages to get shot by the dam itself in a way that defies description.

The special effects consist of flowing water superimposed on photo's of the town in a method that makes a sixties Godzilla film look like the Matrix. A three-year-old drawing with a blue crayon on the film stock would have yielded better results. Since the disaster money shots are worthless how is the rest of the film?

Needless to say the script and acting follow the special effects lead. This is no diamond in the rough. This is the rough. So is it a guilty pleasure? Killer Flood is awful enough to generate some laughs and the film itself has that earnest incompetence that makes a good cult classic, but bad disaster films need to age like a fine wine. (Avalanche, The Swarm, An Inconvenient Truth )

It is also doubtful that Michelle Green hiding from the flood in a dumpster with a golden retriever will ever match the great Henry Fonda being pelted by raisins that are supposed to be killer bees. Check back with me in 2024.

I thought this film was very well done. I really enjoyed it and I thought that the acting and the special effects were great.

I like Disaster movies so I goth this movie. Came fast and I have not had time to see the movie yet