Flood (2007 film)

Lore & Background

The plot follows a storm surge that travels between the United Kingdom and mainland Europe, raising sea levels at the same time as the spring tide. Several parts of Scotland are devastated, including Wick. Met Office head forecaster Keith Hopkins mistakenly believes the storm will head towards the Netherlands, but marine physics professor Leonard Morrison, who has based his career on believing the Thames Barrier was built in the wrong place, disproves Hopkins' theory with his independent computer model, predicting a massive surge. After misinformed meetings with Deputy Prime Minister Campbell, the authorities realize central London will be inundated in three hours, and a state of emergency is declared, causing panic and congestion.

Leonard travels to the barrier and meets his estranged son Rob, an engineer, and Rob's ex-wife Sam, the barrier manager. The tsunami overwhelms the barrier, and the flood sweeps into the city. Rob and Sam escape into the Thames, while Leonard is rescued by a military helicopter and taken to COBRA. Rob and Sam end up with other survivors in the London Underground, where a maintenance worker drowns sealing a door. They escape to Trafalgar Square and return with Leonard to the barrier, where Leonard believes the water flow can be reversed as the tide turns. General Ashcroft disagrees and lobbies for an air strike to destroy the barrier. Hopkins, feeling guilty, dies by suicide. Leonard sacrifices himself to activate the reverse flow controls underwater, drowning in the process. The floods recede, and casualties are counted.

Reader's Guide

Flood is notable as a British–Canadian disaster film that attempts to apply the conventions of American disaster movies to a London setting. Its significance lies in its extensive use of special effects and production design to depict iconic London landmarks—such as the London Underground, Houses of Parliament, and The O2—partially submerged. The film was shot on location in London for two weeks and in South Africa for 11 weeks, with twenty-six studio sets built for flood sequences and miniature sets used for larger flooded buildings. Computer-generated visual effects combined shots of London with digitally created water.

The film received negative critical reception. Anna Smith of the BBC gave it 3 out of 5 stars, calling it 'an American disaster movie on rather sodden British soil.' Susan Stewart of the New York Times found 'a few moments of fine acting are dwarfed by the over-the-top special effects' in what she termed an 'overwrought and simplistic production.' Mike Ward of the Daily Star called it 'ridiculous bilge,' and The Guardian described it as 'a bit of a damp squib.' Despite this, the film was released in multiple formats, including a limited theatrical release in the UK in August 2007, a DVD release, and an extended two-part TV version that aired on ITV1 in May 2008 and was broadcast as a mini-series in several countries.

Did You Know?

• The film depicts a massive storm surge predicted by a marine physics professor.
• Casualties are counted in the disaster.