The Great Flood
The Great Flood (Korean: 대홍수) is a 2025 South Korean science fiction disaster film, directed by Kim Byung-woo and released globally on Netflix. The movie features Kim Da-mi as An-na, an AI researcher, and Park Hae-soo as Hee-jo, a security agent. The narrative unfolds on the last day of Earth, as a catastrophic global flood, triggered by an asteroid impact, submerges the world. An-na, with her young son Ja-in, struggles for survival within a sinking apartment building while being central to a mysterious mission that involves artificial intelligence, engineered human bodies, and consciousness transfer for humanity's future. The film shifts from a disaster-survival plot to a high-concept sci-fi thriller, exploring themes of survival, memory, emotion, and the ethical dilemmas of rebuilding humanity through AI. It is rated TV-MA, indicating it is intended for mature audiences due to intense violence, strong language, and psychologically complex themes.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe film contains high levels of graphic and intense violence, including mass casualties from natural disasters and direct physical combat. The MPAA rating of TV-MA is partly due to the violence depicted, which includes both widespread destruction and personal brutal acts.
Examples include 'multiple disaster scenes involving a great flood, including tsunami-size waves, collapsing and drowned buildings, windows blowing out of buildings, and people's bodies in the water'. Additionally, there are 'repeated scenes of physical combat, which include punching, shoving, and choking. A main character strangles someone. There are scenes of firearms violence, including shootouts and cold blooded executions'.
Profanity
HighThe film features frequent and strong profanity, contributing to its TV-MA rating. This includes a notable number of sexual expletives and scatological curses throughout the dialogue.
According to content analysis, there are 'approximately two dozen profanities in the film, including eight sexual expletives, 11 scatological curses, and a few terms of deity and minor profanities'. Parental guides also advise that 'strong language and profanity should be expected' given the intense situations.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe film features consistently high levels of scary and intense content, deriving from both the apocalyptic disaster scenario and the psychological intensity of its science fiction themes. It is designed to be a 'pressure-cooker' experience.
The content includes 'multiple disaster scenes involving a great flood, including tsunami-size waves, collapsing and drowned buildings, windows blowing out of buildings, and people's bodies in the water'. The 'emotional tension is extremely high, and the film is designed to be a 'pressure-cooker' experience, which may be very disturbing for younger or sensitive viewers'. The concept of humanity being replaced by AI and the main character An-na experiencing multiple simulations of the apocalypse are psychologically demanding.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThe film portrays instances of disrespect and rebellion primarily stemming from societal breakdown during the apocalyptic event. Characters resort to desperate and violent acts as they fight for survival, exhibiting defiance against social order.
In one scene, 'Looters turn violent and attack an old man off screen before attacking a main character'. The film explores 'how human behavior breaks down under extreme stress, with characters making difficult choices to save themselves or others', implying a general disregard for conventional authority or respectful conduct when survival is paramount.
Anti-Christian Themes
MediumWhile the director explicitly states the title 'The Great Flood' was 'heavily influenced by the story of Noah in Genesis' to evoke associations of a new world and the end, the film's narrative diverts significantly from biblical accounts. It presents a scientific, human-engineered solution for humanity's survival through artificial intelligence and synthetic children, which may be seen as contradictory or problematic from a Christian worldview regarding creation and the sanctity of human life.
Director Kim Byung-woo noted his intention to 'trigger those associations' with Genesis through the title. However, the plot reveals that global governments funded secret efforts to survive, including 'research into creating engineered human bodies and consciousness' and developing 'synthetic children' like Ja-in to carry humanity forward via AI, rather than divine intervention.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowNo specific LGBTQ+ characters, themes, or explicit discussions of gender identity were found in the available content reviews or plot summaries for 'The Great Flood (2025)'. Mandatory explicit searches yielded no relevant results directly linked to the film's content. The film primarily focuses on a heterosexual mother-son bond and broader existential themes of human survival.
Searches for 'The Great Flood (2025)' combined with terms like lgbtq, queer, gay, lesbian, transgender, queer representation, and LGBTQ characters, as well as director Kim Byung-woo's name with 'lgbtq', returned no information indicating such content within the movie itself.
Romance and Sexual Content
LowThe available parental guidance reviews explicitly state that there is no sexual content present in 'The Great Flood (2025)'. The film's focus is on survival and the parent-child bond rather than romantic or sexual relationships.
One detailed content review explicitly states, 'Sexual Content: None.'. Another parental guide notes, 'There may be no sexual content or substance use'.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThere is no evidence of witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, magic rituals, demons, spells, or explicit supernatural elements driving the plot of 'The Great Flood (2025)'. The film is a science fiction disaster thriller focused on scientific solutions and human resilience.
The plot description details a global flood due to an asteroid impact, a secret UN project involving AI, engineered humans, and consciousness transfer. While director Kim Byung-woo mentioned being influenced by the Noah story in Genesis, this was for thematic resonance regarding a new world and the end, not for literal biblical or occult depictions.
Substance Use
LowParental content reviews explicitly state that 'The Great Flood (2025)' contains no alcohol or drug use.
A detailed content review specifically notes, 'Alcohol / Drug Use: None.' Another source indicates 'there may be no sexual content or substance use'.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
17+ due to graphic violence, frequent strong profanity, and intense psychological themes surrounding human survival, AI, and existential dilemmas. The MPAA TV-MA rating confirms it is specifically designed for adults and may be unsuitable for children under 17.
Additional Notes
The film's plot involves a significant twist where the reality presented to the audience might be a simulation, with the protagonist An-na (Kim Da-mi) undergoing numerous iterations to develop an 'emotion engine' for AI humans. This complex narrative structure, involving time loops and philosophical questions about what it means to be human, may be challenging for younger viewers to comprehend.
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