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Into the Abyss
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Into the Abyss

2011
Documentary
1h 47m
Intimate interviews and life stories of several people involved in the life of an inmate condemned to death in a Texas prison. (imdb)
Directed by:
Werner Herzog Werner Herzog
Written by:
Werner Herzog Werner Herzog
Starring:
Werner Herzog Werner Herzog Michael Perry Jason Burkett
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Genre:
Documentary
Countries:
Germany, UK, USA
Language:
English
imdb More information at IMDb
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Into the Abyss

2011
Documentary
1h 47m
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Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 63.31% from 760 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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kmcneilKMcNeil
Rated 17 Mar 2012
7
70th
Yet another great documentary from Herzog, who has moved almost seamlessly from fiction to non-fiction thanks to an almost otherworldly mix of empathy, intelligence and razor-sharp wit. He's one of the best interviewers ever at turns condemning and comforting everyone in his orbit, while coming across as genuine and allowing his own beliefs to shine through without clouding the issues of death penalty, penance, retribution and the American - and specifically Texan - way of life.
Rated 17 Mar 2012
emtiltemtilt
Rated 16 Sep 2012
49
23rd
I found this film inept and shallow, especially compared to Herzog's better works. It tries to cast mystery and depth onto the mundane in manipulative ways. In doing so, it neglects logic and becomes anti-intellectual. It seems patronizing to some of the interview candidates, largely due to Herzog's poor interviewing methods, both in terms of the discussion and how the interviews are shot. It overstays its welcome, and it is edited like a TV special report. Certainly weak by Herzog's standards.
Rated 16 Sep 2012
canadianorcanadianor
Rated 24 Sep 2011
30
18th
If 'Into the Abyss' proves anything, it's that Herzog may be too interested in people. It's a trait you'd not only expect, but admire in a documentarian. The problem with Herzog and this doc is that he gets sidetracked too often. What's supposed to be a film about inmates on death row has stream-of-consciousness chit-chat that would be cut out of tighter films. To it's credit, even though Herzog is against Capital Punishment, he lets the film speak for itself - when it manages to stay on topic.
Rated 24 Sep 2011
actionbergActionberg
Rated 25 Apr 2012
85
84th
Most everybody in the film has a moment where they talk about something they try to block out of their minds, as though the abstraction of such an unbelievably horrid crime and its aftermath forces them to create new perceptions of reality just so that they can get up in the morning. It's an emotional phenomenon that stands as a strong argument against the barbaric and cruel act of capital punishment. And here it's the most pointless instance of murder one can imagine to make Herzog's point.
Rated 25 Apr 2012
fredericg54frederic_g54
Rated 18 Jul 2018
6
34th
Not sure what Herzog was going for here but talking heads documentaries can only hold my interest for so long, not to mention, this felt more like a crime investigation rather than a truly in depth look at life on death row and the issue of the death penalty itself. Not one of Herzog's strongest efforts but still worth a watch for fans of his work.
Rated 18 Jul 2018
mwgerbmwgerb
Rated 25 Feb 2012
64
75th
A bit uneven, the film sometimes came across as blatant or disjointed, but other times left me on the verge of tears purely through its portrayal of raw truth. Herzog's message came across clearly, but most impressively came across honestly.
Rated 25 Feb 2012
derekstarDerekstar
Rated 17 Mar 2012
60
36th
I really don't care about the *crimes.* If we had been saved from the 30-40 minute description of events, maybe we could have got into the meat of the matter. Or maybe not. Anyways, it seemed a little shallow for Herzog. I was expecting a little more about the meaning of life and death rather than robotic recitations of events and procedures.
Rated 17 Mar 2012
mentaculusMentaculus
Rated 26 Apr 2012
77
65th
If a documentary is supposed to answer the Who, What, Why, When and How, then Herzog bats a 4 out of 5. But in his flat-out refusal to - really - answer the Why, you realize any documented response would be disingenuous, trite, and a red-herring to the permenance of fractured, broken lives that festers beneath any heinous crime. How Herzog is able to get these people to open up so genuinely without any coddling is a wonderful mystery.
Rated 26 Apr 2012
caimancaiman
Rated 02 Jul 2013
90
92nd
I don't think I've ever seen such an even handed documentary. Herzog demonstrates that murder is murder regardless of intention or legal immunity. There's a great parallel between the description of the methodology of the crimes committed and that of the execution procedure. While a lesser filmmaker would manipulate the interviews to frame his stance, Herzog uses the interviews to paint a sad picture of murder that equally affects everyone involved. This is one of Herzog's best documentaries.
Rated 02 Jul 2013
mondarableMondarable
Rated 10 Jul 2012
5
15th
While the idea of showing all aspects of one event is a good one, Herzog fails to bring a strong sense of significance to any of his interviews and some lost direction. Some shots were meaningful, but others made me think he didn't spend enough time editing. As an American, I feel disgusted to be associated with the demographic portrayed in the film. As a supporter of capital punishment, the walkthrough of their last day was powerful and thought-provoking. Overall, not something I'd recommend.
Rated 10 Jul 2012
twincinematwincinema
Rated 19 Mar 2015
80
75th
In the first few minutes, Herzog says that he opposes the death penalty. Of course, a film that single-mindedly condemns the death penalty would probably be shallow; instead, this film focuses on the emotional "abyss" (sorry) that occurs for everyone involved after the event (family & friends, and so on). Even more, Herzog, without telling us directly, show the structural/cultural issues that exist around these characters. He offers compassion and humanity when there appears to be none.
Rated 19 Mar 2015
davidblastDavidBlast
Rated 10 Oct 2012
50
43rd
Death row is an often used subject for documentaries, and even from Herzog's quirky and nuanced perspective, there's little new light shed here. The real crime is the scattershot approach to the subject, that may show many sides of the tragedy, but fails to truly engage. It ends up being just another story from the flip side of America.
Rated 10 Oct 2012
andreasthauAndreasThau
Rated 14 May 2012
80
77th
I really like the way Herzog portrays the whole thing from all angles. From families on each side, from villain to hero. But strikingly, I found the part with the systematic walk-through of what happens on a day in the life of a death sentence captain, the most impressive. It was harder to sit through hearing how you follow a death row inmate for the last 8 hours of his life, than hearing how two drunk idiots killed three innocents. Underlining how strong this movie is.
Rated 14 May 2012
caro_fecaro-fe
Rated 18 Mar 2012
75
83rd
Inspiring quote: Live your 'dash'
Rated 18 Mar 2012
dardandardan
Rated 22 Sep 2015
62
62nd
Instead of going 'Into the Abyss', this documentary, bar the very beginning, felt more like an uninteresting case-examination that didn't quite get there.
Rated 22 Sep 2015
csidlecsidle
Rated 14 Oct 2012
85
85th
The arbitrary nature of capital punishment comes forth when we realize that almost every person involved in this documentary has either been in prison, or has a relative who has. No one is innocent in this film, and misery is all around. It's the flip of a coin. One man shies away from a fight, another introduces his little brother to his killers, while an inmate father experiences utter humiliation and failure as he celebrates thanksgiving in prison with his two incarcerated sons.
Rated 14 Oct 2012
kasperlKasperL
Rated 10 Sep 2011
70
65th
A grim film, tempered by some funny asides (the guy who's exaggerating is hilarious). Herzog is a brilliant interviewer. He knows exactly what to ask his subjects, and how. At times his film feels exploitative and a bit all over the place, but the purpose/message is clear.
Rated 10 Sep 2011
hofschneiderHofschneider
Rated 21 Dec 2020
83
75th
Werner Herzog has the most open eyes in all of cinema.
Rated 21 Dec 2020
td888td888
Rated 20 Mar 2012
40
28th
Herzog missed his mark. It feels like he's on automatic and not really interested in the subject matter. Even some of his questions I find misleading and obnoxious. There's always a certain edge to Herzog's work, but unfortunately it's missing here.
Rated 20 Mar 2012
methad1methad1
Rated 28 Mar 2012
70
58th
Doesn't really get it's teeth into any particular area of the murders, victims, families or the killers - so feels like a general overview of the whole senario rather than an insight to anything particular. He has a good interview style but didn't really ask any questions that rocked the boat. Interesting but nothing cutting edge.
Rated 28 Mar 2012
ozonepaulozonepaul
Rated 28 Jul 2012
91
68th
I officially declare Werner Herzog as my intelectual idol. I love his way of lookin at the most extreme forms of human existence.As if wearing the most efficient emphaty disturbance filter glass.
Rated 28 Jul 2012
ronthedogronthedog
Rated 10 Oct 2015
84
77th
A brave and deceptively subtle movie, where Herzog doesn't at any point try and tell his own story or paint his own picture. His interview questions, far from being weak and insipid, draw much out of the individual characters without imposing himself on their accounts, resulting in him often empathizing with their increasingly bizarre tales. A portrait of an incredibly painful mess from a man with no solutions but a response to what he perceives as an inappropriate judicial response.
Rated 10 Oct 2015
jodamicojodamico
Rated 17 Apr 2012
75
45th
It's got even less of Herzog in it than Little Dieter Needs to Fly, which tells me that he was sucked totally into the subject and wanted the story to stand by itself, but it's like it overwhelmed him. The pacing is off and it's all got kind of a Discovery Channel feel.
Rated 17 Apr 2012
neonmanNeonman
Rated 14 Dec 2015
79
61st
Also utterly devastating. People have had their lives ruined, either by themselves or by others, and they discuss is with no reservations in this harrowing doco. This sort of access and how up-front it is is very confronting, but makes for a morally stimulating watch. I think because the perpetrators claim their innocence it would've been better if the notion of an innocent person being executed was explored a lot more.
Rated 14 Dec 2015
cmonsterCMonster
Rated 06 May 2015
79
64th
I'm not sure who is a bigger creep: Herzog or Jason Burkett's wife.
Rated 06 May 2015
wetwillieswetwillies
Rated 14 Jan 2014
90
80th
Harrowing stuff. I love how Herzog is able to simultaneously insert himself and his opinions into the film (his weird interview style is something to behold...that metal detector comment is gold, Jerry, gold!) and still make an impartial work that allows the viewer to make the final decision on the validity of the death penalty. The photography is consistently great, and some of the interviews are unforgettable.
Rated 14 Jan 2014
kercKerc
Rated 03 Dec 2011
28
92nd
And first blush, Into the Abyss seems decidedly un-Herzogian; it's essentially a collection of sit-down interviews with lots of talking heads and very few ecstatic images. But Herzog has such a keen talent for prying people open that the very best of the interviewees leave you gobsmacked at the details of their hardscrabble existence.
Rated 03 Dec 2011
funkyastroFunkyAstro
Rated 30 Oct 2012
80
80th
I was expecting this to be a documentary about whether or not we should allow the death penalty but it wasn't really even touched on, other than for a brief moment by Herzog himself, towards the end of the film. Instead it remained objective and allowed the viewer to formulate their own opinions of the offenders and the victims. The case itself was pretty cut and dry. The interviews were kind of mediocre, but there was definitely something there that stuck out, which is why Herzog is the man.
Rated 30 Oct 2012
dmcrimsonDMCrimson
Rated 16 Jun 2012
82
74th
Herzog portrays great individual stories but the documentary suffers without an overarching theme or message. Documentaries need to add a deeper message beyond the surface stories for the audience to benefit from the content.
Rated 16 Jun 2012
closedmouthclosedmouth
Rated 15 Dec 2013
90
89th
One of his best documentaries, and a beautiful film. I was completely engrossed from start to finish. Such strange, interesting people.
Rated 15 Dec 2013
ratedarghratedargh
Rated 15 Feb 2014
90
85th
Extremely balanced and unbiased. Herzog searches for honesty and humanity within the darkest of subjects and somehow finds it within the wreckage. There is no finger wagging, just head shaking at the senseless loss of human life from more than one angle.
Rated 15 Feb 2014
seeger_wildeSeeger Wilde
Rated 29 May 2012
81
25th
Solid film. The subject matter alone made this a must see for me
Rated 29 May 2012
yoohooyoohoo
Rated 22 May 2012
75
52nd
Interesting documentary but I'm not a huge fan of Herzog. I know he generally goes with unstructured formats, but if this one did have some structure to it it could have been much better.
Rated 22 May 2012
redactedredacted
Rated 13 Apr 2012
82
77th
cover's life, death & the occurrences between. each of the people in this film are incarcerated in their own way, having been pushed into the situation they find themselves by a force beyond their control. from the unborn child in for a life i don't much envy to the pale inmate with mere days left in his life. this film could be more about the capability we have to veer a life in a direction on a whim, in this case, entirely negative rather than a discussion about capital punishment specific.
Rated 13 Apr 2012
djrossdjross
Rated 16 Aug 2012
76
87th
Anatomy of a capital murder case functions effectively as a diagnosis of American society itself.
Rated 16 Aug 2012
davidjohnsonDavidJohnson
Rated 16 Mar 2012
80
64th
One of the better documentaries by Werner Herzog. I think it tries to stay objective, but ultimately leans a bit towards being against the death penalty. The movie sets up the story about this guy who killed three people just for a car, but when we actually see him, you still feel sorry for him, if you are to believe that he is guilty. If he is innocent then it is all the more sad. The various interviews are all interesting for the most part.
Rated 16 Mar 2012
hawkinsHawkins
Rated 09 May 2022
71
47th
There's one golden moment where Herzog is delighted by an unfamiliar phrase that he misquotes "balls at the walls". That should have been the title.
Rated 09 May 2022
doctor7doctor7
Rated 13 Oct 2012
76
64th
While Into The Abyss has moments of tremendous power it never feels like it goes deep enough into the subject matter. We get a sense of how people are affected by crime but the brutality of their actions never really comes to life through this documentary. It certainly makes the case that the truth is clearly subjected and some of the subjects are lying but maybe that's the point. How can someone be executed if you don't really know what happened?
Rated 13 Oct 2012
radumsmnradumsmn
Rated 13 Dec 2020
81
89th
Why would you institutionalize death?
Rated 13 Dec 2020
picklemanPickle_Man
Rated 19 Jan 2018
70
35th
Has a very "made-for-television" feel but is strangely engaging anyway.
Rated 19 Jan 2018
ddrudgesd_drudges
Rated 02 Apr 2012
60
69th
Had some great moments but overall it was pretty dull.
Rated 02 Apr 2012
langelundLangelund
Rated 21 Mar 2012
85
89th
Herzog-hypnothis from hell to heaven.
Rated 21 Mar 2012
nathan_sNathan S
Rated 17 Apr 2012
4
74th
Herzog makes his opinions on capital punishment clear, but that's beside the point. He presents a clear-headed and even-handed story here, without politicizing or preaching. Interviews with the victims are just as sensitive, regretful, and nauseating as the interviews with people who have hands-on experience with executions.
Rated 17 Apr 2012
dtortumdtortum
Rated 06 Jul 2012
90
69th
Herzog cok garip bir adam. Hikayeyi cok iyi kuruyor, dunyanin en ilginc roportajlarini yapiyor. Ve surekli bi igneleyici ama saygi uyandirici tavrini da koruyor. - Cok guzel bir film, tum fikirler duygular icinden cikilmaz bir sarmal oluyor.
Rated 06 Jul 2012
okkervilOkkervil
Rated 26 Apr 2012
76
77th
A beautifully constructed documentary from Herzog. I love Herzog's style of questioning; "tell me about those squirrels?" 'Into the Abyss' never quite manages to delve deep enough to any facet of its make-up, but there are undeniably some poignant, dark and fascinating moments here.
Rated 26 Apr 2012
jack_parsonsjack parsons
Rated 19 Mar 2012
7
41st
A nice study on an issue that Werner Herzog has an obvious stance on, but me and so many others just aren't sure. The former captain of the wall unit fit the stereotype of someone that would promote capital punishment, but his revelations were pretty shocking. These were some important conversations, but not Herzog's best.
Rated 19 Mar 2012
ozymandius10ozymandius10
Rated 30 Apr 2012
78
69th
Even with it's flaws in focus (and it really does suffer as a whole in that respect), there were no less than three separate instances where I was almost in tears (It could just be the subject matter, but I've seen other films dealing with the same things, and never had that type of reaction). Very powerful, and extra credit is due for making a doc that doesn't tell you which way you should lean, and just presents the different points of view.
Rated 30 Apr 2012
driscarpindriscarpin
Rated 12 Nov 2021
80
64th
Estreava há 10 anos nos EUA. Filmaço humanista, mas talvez tão humanista que peque por pintar um quadro que esconda certos fatos do caso e cause simpatia demais para quem não merece, óbvio que assassinato pela mãos do Estado deve ser discutido e combatido, como todo o sistema prisional, desde que também não passe a mão na cabeça de pessoas culpadas por atos que ferem o contrato social ético. Plus: Groupie de prisioneiro é foda, não me conformo, isso é um fenômeno terrível. MKO
Rated 12 Nov 2021
chemical404chemical404
Rated 29 Mar 2012
56
49th
Surprisingly shallow documentary, considering it was made by herr Werner Herzog. Retelling of the crime takes a big part of it, and it is not an interesting part. Then it seems that Herzog chose to try and make us sorry for people condemned to die with emotionally moving poetic words instead of telling why it is wrong in an intellectual way. Some oddities along the way too. WTF is wrong with that pregnant lady's head?
Rated 29 Mar 2012
begoniabolbegoniabol
Rated 13 Nov 2012
75
70th
Herzog is an interesting interviewer and asks good questions. Most interviews are good, and Michael Perry is pretty disturbing
Rated 13 Nov 2012
pickpocketPickpocket
Rated 16 Apr 2012
8
82nd
Has its moments of brilliance but at times it moves painfully slow. The woman that married one of the inmates is insane and will make you sick. The interviews are well done and often interesting but don't be fooled into thinking this was an objective film - one of the most biased things I've seen, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The dad, who was also incarcerated (shocking), made a great point about how if he was there to raise his son then none of this probably would've happened. Yep
Rated 16 Apr 2012
wulfstanleeWulfstanLee
Rated 06 Jun 2016
90
83rd
I applaud Herzog for caring more about the subjects' stories than his or anyone else's politics. A fine film worth seeing.
Rated 06 Jun 2016
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 17 Nov 2017
70
82nd
Very good.
Rated 17 Nov 2017
cagedwisdomcagedwisdom
Rated 22 Mar 2012
75
65th
Unfortunately a bit uneven and seems to have been put together with little regard for structure. I also had a a hard time remembering the details of the crime, despite a (commendably) long part of the film dedicated to it. That said, it had me in tears more than once - Herzog has an ability to bring out something incredible in his interview subjects, making each one seem like the most interesting thing you could currently be occupied with. I think I'd watch anyone be interviewed by that man.
Rated 22 Mar 2012
makudo333Makudo333
Rated 19 May 2023
70
55th
A captivating documentary that explores the complexities of life, death, and the human condition. Directed by Werner Herzog, it delves into a haunting triple homicide case in Texas, provoking introspection and raising profound questions about violence, capital punishment, and personal choices. A thought-provoking film.
Rated 19 May 2023
mandymandy
Rated 12 May 2014
6
44th
Herzog lets the stories unfold without judgement and he holds the camera for long enough to reveal truths.
Rated 12 May 2014
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 04 May 2013
60
54th
Struck me as kind of Errol Morris territory, and I know Morris was Herzog's protege, but I think he explores these particular themes more compellingly.
Rated 04 May 2013
mega_rubmega RUB
Rated 07 Jul 2021
80
37th
Incomplete, but really good
Rated 07 Jul 2021
jerkyJerky
Rated 29 Mar 2015
60
72nd
Seemed like Herzog was pandering most of the time, instead of getting to the meat of the issue.
Rated 29 Mar 2015
woozybWoozyB
Rated 29 Jan 2013
85
73rd
Welp, Herzog sure likes to get down to the sheer horribleness of things without imposing too much judgment, which is probably why he's the best at what he does.
Rated 29 Jan 2013
sirsassSirSass
Rated 20 Mar 2021
75
82nd
The guy in charge of death row inmates sounds like droopy dog.
Rated 20 Mar 2021
icarusIcarus
Rated 27 May 2012
89
87th
Excellent work from Herzog. Most significantly, the film illustrates the abject brokenness that comes from violence and death. This brokenness comes to every single person involved: victims, perpetrators, families, police, chaplains, and guards. No one is untouched. Further, while the survivors and support personnel are grappling with the tragedy, the inmates (including the loony wife) rest on a false hope that refuses to acknowledge their own role in the murders. Tragedy of the highest order.
Rated 27 May 2012
aceysaid10AceySaid10%
Rated 23 Mar 2012
82
64th
Pretty "Herzogy" but definitely one of his sloppier efforts...
Rated 23 Mar 2012
zipsterZipster
Rated 12 Aug 2014
85
68th
Many docs made nowadays are a series of talking heads and graphics montages. Maybe a filmmaker with a sense of humor will throw some ironically relevant music under the info-dumps. Documentary has also become virtually synonymous with issue and message films. Very few seem to find the same spiritual center as a fiction piece. Herzog does.?The movie transcend the identity of a social issue piece or a sensationalistic expose to become an elliptical, humane contemplation of violence, life and loss.
Rated 12 Aug 2014
wwallce4prezWWallce4prez
Rated 14 Apr 2012
70
46th
Herzog found a lot of people that had a lot to say...he put all of it in the film. While the film meanders, the content is rich and the stories are moving. I could listen to Herzog interview a rock and be entertained.
Rated 14 Apr 2012

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