The Quake

The Quake (2018) – A Relentless Race Against Nature

The Quake is a gripping Norwegian disaster thriller and the sequel to The Wave (2015), continuing the story of geologist Kristian Eikjord as he battles against a new, more terrifying force of nature. Directed by John Andreas Andersen, the film ramps up the tension with a looming earthquake threatening to devastate Oslo.

Three years after surviving the tsunami in Geiranger, Kristian lives in guilt-ridden isolation, estranged from his family and haunted by those he couldn’t save. When a colleague dies under mysterious circumstances while researching seismic activity beneath the city, Kristian starts digging into the data—and what he finds is terrifying. A massive earthquake is imminent, but no one believes him.

As warning signs escalate, Kristian races against time to warn authorities and reunite with his family before the ground collapses beneath them. The tension builds slowly and methodically, paying off with an intense, chaotic third act that plunges viewers into collapsing buildings, crumbling roads, and life-or-death decisions.

What sets The Quake apart from Hollywood disaster films is its realism. The characters feel grounded and human, and the emotional weight is never lost in the spectacle. The cinematography is stunning, capturing both the beauty of Norway and the terrifying fragility of its infrastructure.

With powerful performances, especially from Kristoffer Joner as Kristian, the film delivers both thrills and a haunting meditation on trauma, family, and the quiet warnings we often ignore. The Quake is not just a disaster movie—it’s a story of one man desperately trying to hold together a world that’s falling apart, piece by piece.