Movie Digest
After years of hard work Dong-won and his family have finally moved into a house. One day he invites his colleagues for a housewarming party, however things don’t go according to plan and due to heavy rains there is a giant sinkhole that forms and in mere minutes swallows the entire house. The family, neighbours and unlucky guests must find a way to escape the sinkhole before the sinkhole is filled with water as the rains are heavy and they are running out of time.
The Feel-Good Part
The film build intrigue from the very first scene by dropping hints of an impending disaster along with introducing the characters and their significance, which grips viewers from the beginning as well as creates the perfect setting for a disaster film. The director is good at building tension in the film, which is thrilling to watch. The film also shows the changing dynamics between characters as the plot progresses, which is another interesting element as it makes way for an optimistic tone by the end of the film. The film’s comedic aspects are a good balance for the seriousness of the second half of the film. The movie expresses social issues like housing debt and poverty in a subtle way that may give international audiences an insight into the Korean socio-political landscape.
The Disappointing Factor
Sinkhole completely relies on clichés of disaster films, which can be disappointing to watch as it doesn’t even attempt to do something different. There are massive plot-holes in the film, a lot of things don’t make sense, and the outlandish nature of the premise along with the inconsistencies in the story may put the audience off. The growth in character dynamics is very abrupt, there is no slow build up or hinting that takes place, rivals immediately become close friends in the face of disaster, which is jarring to watch. The CGI is quite out-dated and not visually appealing, which could potentially hinder the viewing experience as it doesn’t sell the premise well. The movie builds tension without actually delivering on it, which is a let-down. Additionally, it takes a lot of time to pick up pace, which gets boring. There isn’t enough of a plot that justifies the film’s run time, which makes it feel longer than it actually is by overstaying its welcome.
In-Depth Analysis
Sinkhole did extremely well at the Korean box office, which is proof of how enjoyable it could be when given a chance. The film is silly and at times serious, its tones are not very well-balanced but it tries to give the audience a variety of experiences packed in one, which is admirable.
Star Power
All the performances were great as the cast consists of many seasoned actors who were previously seen on popular K-dramas.
Overall Opinion
The film is a decent watch for the most part; it’s a good popcorn flick that really tries to deliver a good disaster film. If you don’t look too much into the plot you might be able to overlook its flaws and have a good time with it.
