The Flood (2023)


REVIEWER RATING: 
8/10

DIRECTOR:

CAST:


I have lived in Florida for just under 10 years, so I am very accustomed to hurricanes and flood-living areas of the south. What I still haven’t adapted to is the rational phobia of alligators. And believe me…they are everywhere!  

When it comes to Brandon Slagle films, be prepared to be thrown into the wild. Immediately. There’s no slow burn to endure with The Flood as we are delightfully chucked into a terrible Louisiana storm where two strangers (another stellar performance by Devanny Pinn!) collectively run for shelter into an abandoned building. As the winds tear off the raggedy door that barely kept them safe, a third visitor has decided to join them. And he.is.hungry.  

Through some impressive CGI and additional special effects, these behemoth monsters tread unbelievable fear with each step of their intrusion. To make matters worse, a prison bus carrying some of the most treacherous criminals in the state, has been instructed to hunker down in a small-town sheriff’s office to wait out the tempest. Amongst the hardened convicts: cocky killer Lloyd McGraw (the colorful Mike Ferguson) and sharply discreet Russell Cody (standup Casper Van Dien) who is doing time for murdering a cop.  

While assuming it will become a cops-robbers saga to duke out while fending off deadly reptiles, a curve ball is tossed into the unruly set up, turning this game into good guys vs. bad guys vs….well….more bad guys. Lead by Rafe Calderon (the always enigmatic Louis Mandylor), a new team hoping to breakout Russell, the officers and other felons grapple with saving themselves -  and helping others as well? Instincts develop through fearful survival mode while the mammoth gators come calling. Many of which are so very brutal (ever watch a death roll take place?)  

With the waters pouring in, launching these ‘land sharks’ from sewer hatches like a jungle gym event, the only option for this motley crew is up before the flood catches them. Or the gators nab them first.

Is this original?
Not really.
Is this scary?
I am still shuddering.

OVERALL: 
Many out there like myself have been programmed to be frightened by alligators. And juicing up the reptiles as if they injected steroids only adds to the terror Slagle has previously set up for us in order to produce panic attacks. They infiltrate the town, they do not discriminate, and they are not intended to become your friend (as Big Jim can attest to, unfortunately.) Trust me. These massive super-beasts will scare the beejeezus out of you!


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