Hard Rain (1998)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Mikael Salomon

Writer (WGA):

Graham Yost (written by)

Release Date:

16 January 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller | Drama

Tagline:

In the worst storm in living memory, one guard stands between five men and three million dollars.

Plot:

Set during a massive flood started by a dam accident in a small town, Christian Slater is an armored truck guard who gets robbed by Morgan Freeman...

Plot Keywords:

Sheriff | Flood | Small Town | Armored Truck | Church

Cast

Morgan Freeman	...	Jim
Christian Slater	...	Tom
Randy Quaid	...	Sheriff
Minnie Driver	...	Karen
Edward Asner	...	Uncle Charlie
Michael A. Goorjian	...	Kenny (as Michael Goorjian)
Dann Florek	...	Mr. Mehlor
Ricky Harris	...	Ray
Mark Rolston	...	Wayne Bryce
Peter Murnik	...	Phil
Wayne Duvall	...	Hank
Richard Dysart	...	Henry Sears
Betty White	...	Doreen Sears
Ray Baker	...	Mayor
Lisa Fuhrman	...	Mayor's Wife

Also Known As:

Flood (Japan: English title)
Pluie d'enfer (France)
The Flood (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence.

Runtime:

97 min | 92 min (Nordisk Film DVD version FI SE NO DE)

Country:

USA | UK | Denmark | France | Japan | New Zealand

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | USA:R (certificate #35478) | Netherlands:16 | Philippines:PG-13 | Malaysia:U | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | Finland:K-15 (VET id: 100718) | France:U | Germany:16 (w) | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Etobicoke, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Was originally titled "The Flood", it was changed because the film-makers didn't want audiences to assume it was primarily a disaster movie.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Electrocution powerful enough to set wet clothes on fire would cause instantaneous death. Even discounting this, the burns on Kenny's body would be far more widespread, whereas none appear to be present.

Quotes:

Ray: Hey, did you teach your students how to make things like this?
Mr. Mehlor: Have you been in a high school recently? My students taught ME how to make stuff like this.

Movie Connections:

References Dip huet seung hung (1989)

Soundtrack:

Flood

Good action flick

Hard Rain is a nifty action thriller, set during the middle of a titanic flood in a small town in Indiana. Christian Slater plays a local security guard, attempting to transport the loot out of town with his partner, but as always, it all goes terribly wrong. On the run, from a band of determined thieves, led by Morgan Freeman Slater hides the money and takes refuge with the town sheriff and his band of officers. Only they're seeing green too and Slater is on his own.

The sodden atmosphere of this film is unique and impressive, as is the set design. The film is technically very cool, clever too and working with so much water must've been hell for the crew. The performances are all well rounded enough in Hard Rain but the script lacks the spark to truly make this great or memorable. Sure there are some exciting moments, but what action film doesn't have some excitement? With such a unique setting, I'm surprised that there just wasn't more of a good thing. Overall, I enjoyed it. This film is good action flick. Nothing more, nothing less.