'Into The Abyss' A Review

"I don't have to like you but I respect you as a human being." Herzog says toward the beginning of the documentary. Initially the film reminds me somewhat of 'Thin Blue Line' the Errol Morris documentary about a homicide. Quickly I realized the movie is about something entirely different. Herzog states at the beginning of the film he opposes the death penalty but his views are not overt within the film. It's not a political film its a frank portrayal of a situation. A glimpse at a moment in the lives of a few.

In 2001 three people were murdered for a car. Two 19 year old boys were found guilty and one is awaiting execution. Herzog briefly details the crime but is not concerned with the guilt of the men or in what exactly happened. He's concerned with how people cope with life and death.

The film is intricate, beautiful, heartrending, and briefly hopeful. The characters are fascinating and Herzog leaves us to draw our own conclusions. The most powerful character in the film is a former death row guard who participated in over 125 executions. He participated in the first execution of a female in the early 90's. After the execution he was haunted by her and all the other inmates he had executed and quit shortly after. His whole interview is moving but at the end of it he says something that sums up the whole movie. He says his friends have quoted a phrase to him 'live the dash' which he didn't understand. On your tombstone, he explains, you have your birth date and your death date with a dash in between. He decided he would live his life, as should we all.

Live The Dash.

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