Hard Rain (1998)

Introduction
"Hard Rain" is a 1998 American action thriller film directed by Mikael Salomon and composed by Graham Yost. The movie stars Christian Slater, Morgan Freeman, Randy Quaid, Minnie Driver, and Richard Dysart. The movie is set in the village of Huntingburg, Indiana, throughout a huge flood brought on by heavy rains and a dam's impending collapse. In the middle of the chaos, a group of wrongdoers plot to steal $3 million from an armored truck, resulting in a harmful cat-and-mouse video game as they pursue the not likely duo who have the money.

Plot
The film begins with armored truck motorist Tom (Christian Slater) and his uncle Charlie (Edward Asner), who are transferring $3 million in cash during a torrential rainstorm. While en path to their last location, the set comes across a flooded roadway and is forced to take a detour. Tom and Charlie soon find themselves assailed by a group of thieves led by Jim (Morgan Freeman). Throughout the taking place chaos, Charlie is eliminated, and Tom leaves with the money, hiding it undersea in a close-by cemetery.

As the floodwater continues to rise, the village of Huntingburg is left, leaving few behind, consisting of town sheriff Mike (Randy Quaid) and his deputies, along with Kenny (Michael A. Goorjian), an obnoxious television press reporter, and a group of prisoners who are enabled to leave by Jim as a diversion. On the other hand, Tom experiences Karen (Minnie Driver), a local lady helping to save priceless town artifacts from the increasing floodwaters.

A video game of cat-and-mouse ensues as Tom and Karen evade Jim and his crew, who completely murder the sheriff and his deputies, while attempting to recover the taken cash. Hoping to develop a distraction and save the town from the dam's approaching collapse, Tom triggers on a dangerous strategy to bomb the dam, arguing that it would divert the water and relieve the pressure. As the lawbreakers look for Tom and the cash, they require Kenny to relay their demands for a boat and transport to get away the town.

Climax and Resolution
All of it caps when Tom manages to ruin the dam, triggering a huge wave of water that engulfs the town. In the battle that follows, Tom and Morgan's gang face off in the flooded streets and buildings, leading to an intense shootout. Tom and Karen handle to outmaneuver and eliminate most of the gang members, while others die due to the harmful conditions of the flood.

Finally, Tom challenges Jim, who holds Karen at gunpoint. Benefiting from Jim's short-lived diversion, Tom attacks and suppresses him, conserving Karen and efficiently ending the lawbreakers' pursuit. The movie concludes with Tom and Karen leaving Huntingburg with the recovered $3 million, beginning a new life together.

Reception
"Hard Rain" was met with mixed-to-negative evaluations from critics, who praised the film's high-intensity action series and its setting but criticized its undeveloped characters and thin plot. The motion picture gathered a 28% ranking on Rotten Tomatoes and a 36/100 on Metacritic. Roger Ebert offered the film 2 out of four stars, mentioning that "the motion picture tries to wring one surprise a lot of out of the plot".

Despite its drawbacks, the movie is remembered for its impressive set style, practical effects, and environment, making it a visually enticing action flick. The motion picture shows the power of nature and human greed while keeping a busy, thrilling experience from starting to end.

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