Into the Abyss

PG-13

Released Nov 11, 2011

1h 47m

Documentary

Crime

Drama

List

92%

Tomatometer

118 Reviews

76%

Audience Score

5,000+ Ratings

Filmmaker Werner Herzog explores capital punishment through interviews with convicted killers, their victims' families, and members of the Texas criminal justice system.

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Critics Consensus

Another probing, insightful look at an interesting subject, Werner Herzog explores the American prison system with passion and not politics.

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Tony Rayns

Sight & Sound

Into the Abyss is not just a compelling documentary about a convicted murderer on Death Row, but a further chapter in Werner Herzog's obsessive exploration of the American way of life - and death.

Jul 6, 2018

Full Review

Nicolas Rapold

Film Comment Magazine

The star filmmaker, oft mocked for verging on self-parody, keeps his Teutonic explorer persona in check and allows his subjects' emotional outpourings-sadness, shame, dread, and desperation, and unexpected glimmers of hope and happiness-to set the tone.

Jul 1, 2013

Full Review

Roger Moore

Tribune News Service

Herzog is empathetic and non-judgmental, even as his interview subjects try to rationalize their lives, declare their innocence and the like.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 28, 2012

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

You can say a lot about Werner Herzog, but who else could it be said of that he has fully earned the right to publicly address the most profound questions of our (or any) era?

Nov 10, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Whatever expectations you have entering this documentary, no matter how adamant your feelings are for or against capital punishment, they become another feeling entirely by the time it’s over.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 6, 2023

Full Review

Dustin Chang

Floating World

With no traces of cynicism or sly wit, Into the Abyss is a particularly straightforward documentary. Thoroughly inquisitive and contemplative, Herzog seems to be saying enough is enough.

Mar 21, 2021

Full Review

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Georgan G

Herzog films the emotional reactions of the killers and the people whose lives they changed. The correctional officer in change of the actual executions, speaks with great impact.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/02/24

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Aaron J

Haunting. A good documentary about the death penalty and the folks left in the wake of a crime.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/29/24

Full Review

Tanya

Excellent film that highlights for the millionth time how expensive in dollars killing people for justice is. Regardless of your moral stance, it doesn't reduce crime & 1/3 of that money could easily be spent doing things that actually make a difference. Give these white trash moms producing these losers some sex ed & birth control & access to abortion. Or headstart programming. Or an education that doesn't leave fully 1/2 the population illiterate. Only dictatorships & war criminals & the US kill their criminals. Wake up already AND why not save millions in the process?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/29/23

Full Review

Audience Member

As for speaking to the death penalty, the film definitely takes a side. As for making the crimes committed a point of interest or the lifestyles of those involved, this documentary was really underwhelming.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The first half was quite interesting, but after that all the interviews seemed to make no sense in the main story.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

jorge g

We always expect quality from Herzog's documentaries and this one is no exception. While it lacks the punch that would make it great, it's still a very good film that gives an in-depth look at the emotional world of people involved in such tragedies, as well as capital punishment.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Werner Herzog

Director

Werner Herzog

Narrator

Amy Briamonte

Executive Producer

Dave Harding

Executive Producer

Erik Nelson

Producer

Peter Zeitlinger

Cinematographer

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Synopsis

Filmmaker Werner Herzog explores capital punishment through interviews with convicted killers, their victims' families, and members of the Texas criminal justice system.

Director: Werner Herzog
Producer: Erik Nelson
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Creative Differences, Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, Spring Films
Rating: PG-13 (Some Disturbing Images|Mature Thematic Material)
Genre: Documentary, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 11, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 28, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $222.0K
Runtime: 1h 47m

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