EDEN

Directed by Ron Howard, this dramatisation is inspired by the true story of European settlers on Floreana Island in the Galapagos during the 1920s. It follows narcissistic doctor Friedrich Ritter (Jude Law), his partner Dore (Vanessa Kirby), married couple Heinz and Margaret Wittmer (Daniel Brühl and Sydney Sweeney) and the manipulative, self-appointed “Baroness” (Ana de Armas), all living in close proximity to each other. What begins as a utopian dream of escaping society quickly turns into a power struggle fueled by jealousy and violence. Island life proves harsher than expected for the new arrivals and their paradise soon begins to collapse. Exploring the dark side of human nature when removed from civilisation, this film has a strong ‘Lord of the Flies’ vibe but doesn’t dig into it deeply enough. While all of the actors adopt German accents, some are more convincing than others – with De Arma being the weakest link. None of the characters have any redeeming qualities and their likability plummets as the story progresses. The script also lacks depth, causing the run time to drag. Definitely didn’t do the Galapagos Islands justice, and not because it was filmed in Australia. A survival tale that gets lost in its execution.