Into the Abyss
by: Ben Hayle, NMTV

Werner Herzog is back at it again with the documentary Into the Abyss.  The film gives the audience a look inside the mind of a death row inmate who is set to be executed within days.

Herzog does not hide his distain for the practice of criminal punishment and attempts to make the argument that no matter how horrific the crime no person deserves to be killed for their actions.  Herzog focuses on one case in particular.  Michael Perry and Jason Burkett were convicted of multiple murders.  Perry was sentenced to death and Burkett received a life sentence.  Herzog examines the crime though interviews with many who investigated the murders but he also interviews families who were affected by the killings.

While Herzog is working hard to push his main argument, that capital punishment is wrong, that does not get in the way of the story that he is trying to tell. The problem with this film lies in that story. Herzog takes what is a very interesting topic and what could have been a riveting story and manages to confuse the audience every step of the way. The story is told in a way that ignores logic and Herzog's narration does little to tie his narrative together. There are entire scenes and interviews that are unnecessary and some characters who deserve much more screen time than they received. Herzog has a point he is trying to make but the failure to execute of competent story line destroys what had the potential to be a powerful and moving story.

Into the Abyss held my attention much more than Herzog's last film Cave of Forgotten Dreams but it still fell short of expectations and potential.

2.5 stars out of 5 stars.