Echoes of the Abyss

Critic Reviews

In 'Echoes of the Abyss,' Alejandro González Iguanarritu attempts to take us on a soul-searching expedition into a dystopian future, but instead leaves us stranded in a chasm of half-baked ideas and predictable tropes. James Mâché-son’s portrayal of Ethan is as uninspired as the character’s trite quest for meaning; his performance is overshadowed by Adam Sandlager’s confusing turn as the brooding anti-hero Rafe, who seems more suited for a slapstick comedy than a supposedly serious drama. Paul Ruddish tries to salvage the film with his portrayal of the conflicted navigator Gabe, yet even his efforts feel like a drop in the abyss. The script is riddled with clichés and the so-called 'mysteries' of the uncharted abyss are nothing more than thinly veiled metaphors for the characters' inner turmoil, which we've all seen done better numerous times before. The film's PG rating further hampers any real exploration of the darker themes it teases, making it a shallow dive into what could have been profound waters. In the end, 'Echoes of the Abyss' is a forgettable misstep in Iguanarritu’s otherwise impressive filmography—a film that echoes, but never resonates.