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INTO THE ABYSSMovie Reviews
Documentary about the reasons people kill and why a state executes the convicted, including conversations with victims, perpetrators, a convicted killer and a state executioner. Cast:Werner Herzog, Jason Burkett, Michael PerryDirector:Werner HerzogRelease Date:November 11, 2011DVD Release:April 10, 2012From:IFCLength:1 hr 46 min
APRIL 10, 2012
Into The Abyss, Excellent Reviews (Doc) Key Cities
Into The Abyss played in key cities to excellent reviews. • Alison Willmore wrote for Movieline, "...the best thing Herzog's done in years.... the filmmaker discovers a near-mythic land of broken families, sudden destructiveness and tremendous emotion..." • And Peter Keough wrote in the Boston Phoenix, "...like 'In Cold Blood' and 'A Short Film About Killing,' the film doesn't shy from showing the heinousness..." More Reviews Below...
Into The Abyss Positive Reviews (37 Reviews, reviews below)
Richard Corliss, Time: EXCELLENT "Herzog asks viewers not to agree with his position on the state's right to kill, but to spend some time with folks who would kill, or be killed, for the sake of a red Camaro."(See all of Richard Corliss's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,128 words, 09/16/11
Christy Lemire, Associated Press: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...it's impossible not to be shaken by the senseless loss depicted in 'Into the Abyss,' the overwhelming sadness, but also the possibility of spiritual redemption."(See all of Christy Lemire's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 677 words, 11/10/11
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: MODERATE(cg) "The film has the same moral design as 'Dead Man Walking,' but since it never gets inside the darkness of the killers' minds, it's really just a rambling episode of 'A Current Affair.' "(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 77 words, 11/11/11
Roger Ebert, RogerEbert.com: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...may be the saddest film Herzog has ever made. It regards a group of miserable lives, and in finding a few faint glimmers of hope only underlines the sadness."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 753 words, 11/11/11
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (12 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...what rescues the film from its title is the stubborn individuality of the people it discovers, none of them entirely innocent or utterly evil, all of them vivid..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 816 words, 11/11/11
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Why do these men deserve a voice in the greater world, while so many remain unheard? And are their lives really as valuable as any other?"(See all of Elizabeth Weitzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 238 words, 11/11/11
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "It is familiar ground Herzog is covering, with its fundamental 'Dead Man Walking' crisis of conscience issues. What is missing is something new -- clarity, insight, outrage."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 816 words, 11/11/11
Kyle Smith, New York Post: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...those who agree will be deeply moved... Those who disagree will note that the killer who is his subject disposed of his humanity long before the state formalized the process."(See all of Kyle Smith's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 520 words, 11/11/11
David Edelstein, New York Magazine: OUTSTANDING "Herzog portrays not just a single injustice but a whole sick, tragic ecosystem of senseless crime and uncomprehending punishment. This is a remarkable film."(See all of David Edelstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 497 words, 11/11/11
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...may be the saddest film Herzog has ever made. It regards a group of miserable lives, and in finding a few faint glimmers of hope only underlines the sadness."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 753 words, 11/11/11
Nicolas Rapold, Village Voice: VERY GOOD "...refreshingly down-to-earth... the compassionate inquiry satisfies, with Herzog directing his conspicuous fascination toward grounded rather than grandiose ends."(See all of Nicolas Rapold's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 162 words, 11/02/11
Mark Olsen, LA Weekly: EXCELLENT "...a film about death, staring at the cavernous unknown of mortality and still finding beauty, mystery, strangeness, wonder and, most of all, a reason to go on."(See all of Mark Olsen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 204 words, 11/03/11
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Herzog isn't seeking to exonerate anyone or introduce new evidence. He's just there, observing the process as it rolls forward and wondering why."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 203 words, 12/08/11
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a true-crime drama... an inquiry into fundamental moral, philosophical, and religious issues, and an examination of humankind's capacity for violence..."(See all of Steven Rea's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 342 words, 11/18/11
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: VERY GOOD(cg) "Herzog has managed another strange and intriguing look at a culture and the sorts of people it creates -- victims, cops and criminals."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 447 words, 11/27/11
Amy Biancolli, San Francisco Chronicle: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...asks fewer questions about the bloody specifics than the more timeless and inscrutable matters of life and death, love and loss."(See all of Amy Biancolli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 332 words, 11/11/11
Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "Herzog clings determinedly to hope, to the idea that the cycle of violence may yet be broken, and to the value of life. It's an uneven movie, but a heartfelt and honest one."(See all of Moira Macdonald's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 437 words, 11/18/11
Marc Mohan, Portland Oregonian: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a tightly focused look at the realities underlying our nation's continued reliance on this archaic tool of criminal justice."(See all of Marc Mohan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 307 words, 11/23/11
Tom Long, Detroit News: EXCELLENT(cg) "Three lessons from 'Into the Abyss': Stay away from Texas. Capital punishment is nobody's idea of fun. And man is his own worst enemy."(See all of Tom Long's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 454 words, 11/18/11
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...what elevates the film far above the usual chatter of liberal-conservative debate, is that there can be light on the other end of even the darkest of tunnels."(See all of Rene Rodriguez's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 875 words, 12/02/11
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (8 Reviews)
Nicolas Rapold, Village Voice: VERY GOOD "...refreshingly down-to-earth... the compassionate inquiry satisfies, with Herzog directing his conspicuous fascination toward grounded rather than grandiose ends."(See all of Nicolas Rapold's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 162 words, 11/02/11
Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...like 'In Cold Blood' and 'A Short Film About Killing,' the film doesn't shy from showing the heinousness of the crime..."(See all of Peter Keough's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 159 words, 11/10/11
Mark Olsen, LA Weekly: EXCELLENT "...a film about death, staring at the cavernous unknown of mortality and still finding beauty, mystery, strangeness, wonder and, most of all, a reason to go on."(See all of Mark Olsen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 204 words, 11/03/11
Scott Tobias, AV Club: EXCELLENT(cg) "Herzog's queries are typically odd at times, but his frankness and gentle curiosity gets his subjects talking and he seems to get the most out of every one of them."(See all of Scott Tobias's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 246 words, 09/10/11
Alison Willmore, Movieline: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...the best thing Herzog's done in years.... the filmmaker discovers a near-mythic land of broken families, sudden destructiveness and tremendous emotion..."(See all of Alison Willmore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,016 words, 11/09/11
Bill Weber, Slant: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...thoroughly shaped by Herzog's humanist passion and attention to emotional details.... laments the fallout from cold-blooded carnage with a keen, meditative strength."(See all of Bill Weber's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 906 words, 11/05/11
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Herzog isn't seeking to exonerate anyone or introduce new evidence. He's just there, observing the process as it rolls forward and wondering why."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 203 words, 12/08/11
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: OUTSTANDING "Mr. Herzog elicits revelations with purringly quiet questions that cut to the heart... What's revealed here is by turns horrifying, surprising, anguishing and deeply moving."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 192 words, 09/09/11
A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...what rescues the film from its title is the stubborn individuality of the people it discovers, none of them entirely innocent or utterly evil, all of them vivid..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 816 words, 11/11/11
Ian Buckwalter, NPR: OUTSTANDING "...while the film is instantly recognizable as a Herzog documentary, it's anything but typical.... Herzog looks into darkness and sees nothing but shades of gray."(See all of Ian Buckwalter's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 622 words, 11/10/11
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "It is familiar ground Herzog is covering, with its fundamental 'Dead Man Walking' crisis of conscience issues. What is missing is something new -- clarity, insight, outrage."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 816 words, 11/11/11
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon: EXCELLENT "...while Herzog does explore the gruesome details of the crime, he is ultimately more interested in the emotional and philosophical forensics of the Conroe case."(See all of Andrew O'Hehir's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 662 words, 11/11/11
MOVIE INDUSTRY (5 Reviews)
Peter Debruge, Daily Variety: OUTSTANDING "...dares to plumb the dark hole in America's soul. Herzog's investigation may not work as an anti-death-penalty editorial, but its findings are undeniably profound."(See all of Peter Debruge's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 782 words, 09/03/11
Sheri Linden, Hollywood Reporter: OUTSTANDING "A disquieting, heartbreaking look at American crime and punishment.... The tale unfolds with clinical precision and profound curiosity..."(See all of Sheri Linden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 686 words, 11/05/11
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "It is familiar ground Herzog is covering, with its fundamental 'Dead Man Walking' crisis of conscience issues. What is missing is something new -- clarity, insight, outrage."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 816 words, 11/11/11
A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...what rescues the film from its title is the stubborn individuality of the people it discovers, none of them entirely innocent or utterly evil, all of them vivid..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 816 words, 11/11/11
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: OUTSTANDING "Mr. Herzog elicits revelations with purringly quiet questions that cut to the heart... What's revealed here is by turns horrifying, surprising, anguishing and deeply moving."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 192 words, 09/09/11
16.8 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Into The Abyss's reviews are separated by an average 16.8 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Into The Abyss (37 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Into The Abyss's reviews cover 59.3% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 19,410 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 525 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Into The Abyss Coverage, Volume & Length (37 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 15 Days Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Into The Abyss's reviews on average broke 15 days before opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Into The Abyss's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Into The Abyss (37 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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