The world of Into the Abyss is like a rainier, darker Seven. Or maybe a less misty version of The Mist. Or maybe a more accurate solo build of The Last of Us. It’s actually a lot of things you can imagine because its not enough of itself to fill that space. But it is pretty.

Into the Abyss is an Argentinian horror/sci-fi about a guy exploring a post-apocalyptic city. In the rain. At night. In the background are mega tentacle monsters and in the fore the occasional demon(?). He explores, he loots, he has the occasional run-in with other survivors. What has happened to the word? Who knows?

Note to potential viewers… don’t watch this film if you can be lulled to sleep by the sound of rain. That’s the soundscape of the film… a dark, omnipresent moody, atmospheric rainfall that might just put you to sleep (but not in a bad way). It is genuinely feeding and feeling a rain-slicked cityscape. A dark, damp pile of desperation… a sense of decay and surrender.

It doesn’t have much of a story… though there are cryptic dream sequences, imagery, and dialog that might be reckoned into a theory. But it has no interest in explaining itself or doing any kind of world building beyond its own visual storytelling. Yup… giant tentacle monsters over there, the sound of gunfire, flares in the night… something is going on, but the movie doesn’t really want to tell you.

Which basically resulted in me appreciating the light and shadow and that’s kind of it. I wanted to embrace the movie but it’s purposeful decision to go cryptic ultimately left me cold. Took some time to get there though. The movie is certainly doing something… interesting.

So, yeah, if you like your horror cryptic and post-apocalyptic or you want to see some great cinematography and set decoration, you might appreciate this damp, dark, solo horror film. It’s made with skill and I’m pretty sure they knew what they were doing. Wish they’d let me in on the secret.

Score: 75