Skjelvet (aka The Quake) (2018)

Three years after becoming a national hero for saving lives during a geological disaster, a geologist (Kristoffer Joner) is now a broken man separated from his wife and alienated from his children. But while investigating a colleague's death, he becomes certain that a catastrophic earthquake is imminent. Directed by John Andreas Andersen, this is a follow up the 2015 Norwegian hit THE WAVE. Like that film, the movie moves in the opposite direction of the Hollywood disaster genre by focusing on a minimal set of characters rather than an all star cast. In this case, the geologist and his family. Like its predecessor, it has (for the most part) an intelligent screenplay and first rate special effects. But it's just not as good as the first installment. For one, Joner's character who was a strong and determined protagonist in the first film is now a puddle of neuroticism and self pity. Secondly, it irritates me when stupid decisions put people in jeopardy. For example, surely Joner's geologist would know you do not take an elevator during an earthquake, you take the stairs. Then there's the child who doesn't listen thus putting adults in harm's way trying to save the child. Still, I enjoyed it overall but hopefully the film makers won't go to the well for a third time. With Ane Dahl Torp, Kathrine Thorborg, Edith Haagenrud Sande and Jonas Hoff Oftebro.