Hard Rain (1998) – Review

Get ready to dive into a flood of excitement with the Christian Slater/Morgan Freeman flick Hard Rain, an action-packed gem that might not be a cinematic masterpiece but it sure knows how to make a splash and keep you on the edge of your seat. Just keep your rubbers handy.

Set against the backdrop of a small town inundated by a massive flood, the movie follows the story of Tom (Christian Slater), an armoured truck driver who, along with his Uncle Charlie (Ed Asner), is tasked with transporting roughly three million dollars in cash, collected from a variety of banks, during a storm that is causing floods across the state.  Their job gets complicated when a group of ruthless criminals, who are led by a cool and collected criminal named Jim (Morgan Freeman). decide to seize this opportunity and rob their truck, chaos ensues and the battle for survival becomes a fight against both nature and the criminals.

“What are the odds of me surviving this movie?”

This movie has an entertaining ensemble cast of characters with some solid actors on both sides of the law portraying a variety of stock character tropes of the genre; Morgan Freeman’s criminal leader is aided by fired science teacher Mr. Mehlor (Dann Florek) who provides the explosives for the job, Ray (Ricky Harris) as the inspirational member of the team as he always has an appropriate Bible or Springsteen quote for every occasion, and then there is Kenny (Michael A. Goorjian) the idiot member of the team and has the life expectancy of his South Park namesake. Despite the town being evacuated due to the flooding there are two remaining townsfolk Henry (Richard Dysart) and Dorren Seers (Betty White) who are more concerned about looters than they are about the possibility of the dam breaking and wiping them all away.

Note: Betty White plays an acerbic and sarcastic character who gives everyone including law enforcement a hard time and I’d like to think she is related to her character in Lake Placid.

The bulk of the movie consists of Morgan Freeman and company searching for Christian Slater, who made off with the money after some regretful gunfire that resulted in the death of poor Uncle Charlie – it should be noted that the ratio of bullets “fired versus hit” is really low – and to add a little spice to the proceedings our hero runs into Karen (Minnie Driver), a young woman who is restoring a nearby church and refuses to abandon her post despite the danger, unfortunately, she mistakes Tom for a looter and clobbers him with a crucifix. Sometimes a hero just can’t catch a break. The other key cast members in this movie are the town’s law enforcement officers, consisting of Sheriff Mike Collig (Randy Quaid), who lost the recent election for Sheriff and is soon to be out of a job, and his two deputy dipshits Chief Deputy Wayne Bryce (Mark Rolston) and Deputy Phil (Peter Murnik), but with three million dollars on the line who exactly can you trust?

Who wouldn’t trust this guy?

Stray Observation:

• The film was originally titled The Flood but was changed because the filmmakers didn’t want audiences to assume it was primarily a disaster movie, or to be considered a remake of the made-for-television movie Flood by Irwin Allen.
• That old Uncle Charlie didn’t state he was “two weeks from retirement” is one of the more surprising aspects of this movie as that kind of trope is pretty much expected in this kind of film.
• That three million dollars of bank money is being guarded by just two guys is probably the most far-fetched element of this film’s plot.
• Kenny is electrocuted with enough voltage to set his wet clothing on fire but for some reason, he is not instantly killed by this obviously lethal charge.
• Morgan Freeman’s character is cool, collected and damn smart, but his leading these men as they took their boats around in hopes of simply running into Christian Slater and the money is pretty preposterous.
• The town is flooded and the dam is about to crumble but Chief Deputy Wayne Bryce decides this would be a great time to take a break and rape Minnie Driver. There’s dumb and then there is being tastelessly moronic.
• Morgan Freeman escaping in a rowboat with some of the money could almost be considered an homage to Long John Silver escaping in a rowboat with part of the treasure at the end of Treasure Island.

“Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum.”

The premise of Hard Rain is pretty solid, even if the plotting becomes a little suspect at times, and Christian Slater provides a fun and charismatic hero who is caught between a group of criminals and a brutal storm, while Morgan Freeman delivers a captivating performance as the leader of this crew of expendables and he chews the scenery in the best possible way imaginable as he turns every line into a sinister delight.  Special shout out to Ed Asner as the hero’s world-weary partner whose own agenda kicks everything off.  Of course, this film isn’t about “character development” or “clever plotting” it’s all about the edge-of-your-seat-action that this kind of heist film requires and in that aspect, Hard Rain delivers as the visual effects and practical set designs are all well executed.

Can our heroes survive nature’s fury?

What really sets Hard Rain apart is its commitment to jaw-dropping action sequences, from thrilling boat chases to death-defying leaps – the hero even runs in slow motion from a fiery explosion – this movie has it all. The stunts are wet and wildly spectacular, and even though some of these moments might defy the laws of physics they’re undeniably entertaining. The flooded town is a character in itself with cinematographer-turned-director Mikael Salomon skillfully showcasing the rising waters and the destruction it leave in its wake. The tension is palpable as characters navigate treacherous currents, submerged vehicles and collapsing buildings. And don’t even get me started on the flooded church scene – it’s a heart-pounding sequence that’ll leave you breathless. The special effects team’s dedication to creating a realistic and immersive disaster environment pays off, making the audience feel like they’re right alongside the characters struggling to survive.

Escaping being locked up or handcuffed is a big theme in this movie.

But Hard Rain isn’t just about nail-biting chase sequences, daring rescues and unexpected twists as it also has a sense of humour and while the dialogue might veer into the campy territory it’s all part of the charm this film has to offer. There are moments of levity sprinkled throughout that balance out the tension, and you might find yourself chuckling at the absurdity of it all, but it’s this balance of humour and action that keeps the adrenaline pumping and delivers what fans expect.  Add to all this the excellent chemistry between Christian Slater and Morgan Freeman, who are engaged in a psychological game of cat and mouse, and you have a great entry in this genre. This is not to say the film doesn’t have some problems, while Hard Rain is undoubtedly a thrilling ride it does occasionally rely on some clichéd character motivations and plot devices that one could, at best, call rather contrived and often relies on certain people acting in the dumbest ways possible.

The aforementioned rape attempt is a glaring example of this.

In the end, Hard Rain might not be a film to analyze critically, but it’s an absolute blast if you’re looking for a fun and action-packed ride in an entry that successfully marries disaster and heist elements, delivering an intense cinematic experience. It’s like a rollercoaster soaked in rainwater – a little wild, a little ridiculous, but undeniably exhilarating. So grab your raincoat and get ready to weather the storm of excitement that is Hard Rain.