The aftermath of a catastrophe brings out the worst—or perhaps the best—in people, particularly those struggling to survive together. This South Korean film explores that question when a tremendous (and unexplained, as well as quite unlikely) earthquake levels Seoul and surrounding areas, leaving only one high-rise apartment building standing. The residents there must then grapple with whether to prioritize their own safety or extend assistance to others who have lost everything, all while facing severe limitations in supplies. What unfolds feels like an end-times version of The Lord of the Flies, interspersed with brief flashbacks reminiscent of the television series Lost. Aside from a few mildly interesting moments as a psychological thriller, though, much of what follows is made up of a sequence of foreseeable (and not particularly inventive) events, largely involving different groups fighting to establish dominance. It’s a scenario that has been presented before. The script doesn't offer enough reason to become invested in these characters, mainly due to underdeveloped personalities and a constant focus on disagreements. On top of this are noticeable and unsubtle attempts at symbolic representation of global politics, jarring changes in the movie’s atmosphere—especially early on—and several weak efforts at humor. These issues combine to create something that really needs substantial revision. It's strange to see so much praise given to writer-director Tae-hwa Eom’s third film considering how many problems it has. However, aside from impressive visual effects and a well-realized production design, there isn't much to recommend here. If you are curious about this movie, it might be best to wait until it’s available on home video; otherwise, sitting through the lengthy runtime could be tedious.

Source on TMDB