Synopsis
In December 2004, close-knit family Maria, Henry and their three sons begin their winter vacation in Thailand. But the day after Christmas, the idyllic holiday turns into an incomprehensible nightmare when a terrifying roar rises from the depths of the sea, followed by a wall of black water that devours everything in its path. Though Maria and her family face their darkest hour, unexpected displays of kindness and courage ameliorate their terror.
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Cast
- Naomi WattsMaria Bennett
- Ewan McGregorHenry Bennett
- Tom HollandLucas Bennett
- Samuel JoslinThomas Bennett
- Oaklee PendergastSimon Bennett
- Marta EturaSimone
- Sönke MöhringKarl Schweber
- Geraldine ChaplinOld Woman
- Ploy JindachoteCaregiver
- Jomjaoi Sae-LimhRed Cross Nurse
- 100
The Hollywood Reporter
The Impossible is one of the most emotionally realistic disaster movies in recent memory -- and certainly one of the most frightening in its epic re-creation of the catastrophic 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. - 100
Variety
Wrenchingly acted, deftly manipulated and terrifyingly well made. - 100
Observer
Put a staggering accomplishment called The Impossible, from Spanish director J. A. Bayona, at the top of the season's must-see list. - 80
The Guardian
Part of the appeal of this affecting and powerful drama is that it puts the viewer right in the moment at every stage, using authentic locations and tsunami survivors to hammer home the reality of this tragedy. - 80
Total Film
Marshalling formidable technique and force of feeling, Bayona's tale of courage and empathy in the face of catastrophe fulfils his debut's promise, its harrowing conviction hammered home even harder by the spot-on casting. - 75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
The Impossible looks back at a natural calamity with unflinching honesty. It sees fear and pain, it sees fortitude and bravery, but mainly it sees this: In that raging instant when the sea becomes its own monster, there's precious little to separate the devoured from the spared – nothing but the thin wedge of luck. - 75
ReelViews
The film's adult leads, Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor, give powerful, natural performances. - 67
IndieWire
It suffers from the greater problem of emphasizing a feel-good plot within the context of mass destruction.