Flow
Flow
The world seems to be coming to an end, teeming with the vestiges of a human presence. Cat is a solitary animal, but as its home is devastated by a great flood, he finds refuge on a boat populated by various species, and will have to team up with them despite their differences. In the lonesome boat sailing through mystical overflowed landscapes, they navigate the challenges and dangers of adapting to this new world.
Chris reviewedMarch 20, 2025
Incredibly compelling storytelling that managed to make me care about the characters quickly, and was able to develop them effectively without any spoken dialogue. This film would have been an achievement if created by a major studio, and considering the context behind its creation is practically a miracle.
The visuals are stunning, but to be bluntly honest, show their modest origins. I don’t say this as a real fault—character detail quality is about 80% of the way to a ‘real’ big budget film, while the animation quality, ‘voice acting’, and general magic of the film in motion are able to more than push the full effect over the line. It’s very clear that priorities were well-managed in executing this story; by choosing to dedicate limited time and resources towards the complete vision of the film (ie. getting more assets up to 80% rather than chasing down 100% on fewer assets), Flow is able to stretch its legs and allow the scope to grow, resulting in a very captivating world I expect to revisit in my imagination many times.
Flow is an incredible achievement, a phenomenal experience, and intimately, lovingly imperfect. It isn’t going to be the most accessible movie to everyone, but for those it reaches, it provides a truly unique experience.