Into the Abyss (Werner Herzog, 2011): Germany | Canada

Reviewed by Laura Lopez. Viewed at the AFI Fest 2011.

The abyss of life is a profound range that ends with person’s subjective perception of life through experience and starts with life’s greatest attributes.  In the documentary film Into the Abyss directed by Werner Herzog, reflects on the momentous death row and the penalty of capital punishment in Texas; effecting everyone. Life is pure and sacred, but in the thrall of another person is scary.  The Stotler and Richardson murder case started as a robbery for a red Camaro that led to deaths by young ignorant teen males.

Herzog interviews a death row inmate, Michael Perry 28, convicted of murder and condemned to death for a heinous crime slaying a mother, her son and friend in 2001, as the critical impact and affair of death.  He also has intimate interviews with an accomplice of the murder, the victim’s family siblings, and those who part take in the investigation and procedures of death row.  A crime of couple teens that went into a different level degree of crime led to three deaths. The posing questions Herzog ask of the interviewee are of genuine interest.  Herzog from the beginning conveys opposition towards the death penalty and respects life.

This documentary starts with a monologue that engages the audience with a simple anecdote of a reverend and two squirrels.  He reflects on the simple action to save significant lives, even though they were squirrels. All life is significant and should be respected.  Herzog doesn’t dwell on the specific details of the case as much as the commiseration of the crime but does inform the audience of the crime with on the scene footage of the crime investigation and breaking news hours after the crime. The films ends with an epilogue that leaves the audience with an up-to-date of the victim’s family and the imprisoners’ family and cogitates over life and forgives the actions that has depressed and consumed the families that had endured despair.

The frame of the scene is set on the individual’s face, so the audience is forced to see the murderers and victim’s families. Close-ups of the individuals were important to connect the audience to commiserate with the interviewee. The impactful revolving long take of the death chamber only prompts us to imagine the death of Michael Perry and his final words and gasp in the 14 minutes before his death.

I am opposed to the death penalty; I believe life is precious and shall not be controlled by anyone but of the person who lives it. I can comprehend the perception that a lethal injection will avenge punishment to the person who inflicted pain to a victim and their family. It is defensible and sounds justifiable accept the death penalty,but a human presiding and controlling a human life leaves a deadly power and force in the wrong hands. Death for the convicted, for vengeance, will not revive someone who is dead, respecting the value of human life needs to be practiced by all, even if a person has abused and neglected their life’s chance. This is a a must see film that will induce you and entail sympathy. The horror of death. Its inevitable that life is sacred and pure.