He warned them once. This time, the ground won’t wait.
The Quake (2018) is a heart-pounding Norwegian disaster thriller that serves as a follow-up to the critically acclaimed The Wave (2015) — but this time, the terror comes from beneath. Combining gripping suspense with grounded human emotion, the film explores not just the catastrophic power of nature, but also the personal toll of trauma and the burden of foresight no one wants to believe.
Set three years after surviving the deadly tsunami in Geiranger, geologist Kristian Eikjord (Kristoffer Joner) is no longer hailed as a hero. He’s isolated, wracked with guilt, and estranged from his family. But when a fellow scientist dies investigating strange seismic readings in Oslo, Kristian senses the signs of a new, looming disaster: a massive earthquake could strike the capital at any moment — and no one is prepared.
As he races against time to convince skeptical authorities and reunite with his family, The Quake builds a slow burn of dread, anxiety, and urgency. Unlike Hollywood disaster films that often favor spectacle over substance, this film delivers devastation with realism. When the quake finally hits, it’s violent, raw, and terrifyingly immersive — not just in its visuals, but in how it traps its characters in collapsing buildings, flooded tunnels, and impossible choices.
Yet the true strength of the film lies in its emotional core. Kristian’s journey isn’t just about saving others — it’s about confronting his guilt, regaining the trust of his loved ones, and reconciling with the fact that knowing disaster is coming doesn’t always mean you can stop it. Director John Andreas Andersen masterfully balances intense action with intimate human moments, making The Quake both a nerve-wracking ride and a poignant character study.
Brilliantly acted, tightly paced, and emotionally resonant, The Quake proves that the most terrifying tremors are the ones that shake us from within.
