The Abyss (2023) Poster

(2023)

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4/10
This family drama, not a disaster movie.
Otte118 February 2024
For what appears to be a decent-sized budget, this move is bad. Now I can almost pick out movies where the script was written by AI, this is one of them.

Good Acting: The acting was overall decent. The daughter and father was a little over the top but over all the actors was able to display the range of emotions effectively.

Bad Writing: No real dialogue, one sentence statement jammed together. ALSO, this is not a disaster movie, this is a family drama movie that has a disaster in it.

Plot Devices: I stopped counting after 15. Everyone or everything happened just in time for the maximum dramatic effect. I have trouble finding people in my house, yet entire family find each other from different parts of the city 10+ times.....without the aid of cell phones.

Mica: Have a drink for each time someone says 'Mica' or Simon' and you will die from alcohol poisoning. So many times an entire scene is a different person screaming 'Mica'.
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5/10
I guess all men are dumb??
edgardo101825 February 2024
I won't go into plot details because I see most have been discussed at great length but I did notice all male characters are written to be sniveling/cowering idiots while basically all female characters are super beings. I would not bring it up if not for the fact that basically ALL of them (on either side) are cliched like that. Seems reductionist.... BTW, if the roles were revered, I would consider that stupid as well.

Her husband is a whiny mess, the son is almost an after thought - though finding him was the mission of the plot - and the new boyfriend is just happy to be there with very little self thought.

I don't know, it just jumped at me how marked of a dividing line in decision making they made the characters.
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4/10
Been there seen that. Ten times
tolss-0713217 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
It's a film full of cliches and a list full off predictability's. All in the film has been seen before. Best friend dies. Foreigner, not from town. Two of the same sex in love. Of course one of them dies, and one of the main characters dies in the end.

Main character like an ice cube throughout the film.

This is a repetition of every disaster film from the eighties. Only things that was changed are the sexes on the characters.

They even had the obligatory joik and reindeer's, since the film was from the north off Sweden.

This is a film made off a bunch off lazy people. A quick buck because they know that old Kiruna have to and are moving.
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2/10
Boring Cliche
terrisirig18 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I like foreign films but this movie had so many 'holes' I found it unbearable. What was the main characters job? Oh yeah, to warn the town; well the rocks are literally landing on her head before they decide to warn people and no one even cares, everyone is lingering around staring at the holes in the ground.

I found this movie so frustrating to watch. I knew who would die and who would survive, and I'm not in the film industry. There is no originality or depth at all. There are no surprises. Bad storyline, bad writing. I disliked it very much.

The only good thing about the movie at all were the last scenes that showed the landscape, it's a beautiful country, and the last song was nice. Don't waste your time with this one.
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6/10
Very relatable and admirable characters in spite of their failings
rosepark24 February 2024
I found the characters to be relatable and admirable despite their failings or maybe because of their struggles with their failings.

Suspenseful and I didn't find it predictable. There was no feeling that there would be some miraculous rescue for everyone at the end. I felt truly afraid for the characters because I was invested in them and their reactions felt true.

Frigga's stoic strength when others were losing their minds is something I'd love to see in more female leads.

The low-key ominous signs of collapse, like the slow turning of the lamppost in the rift zone were utterly chilling.

Funny at times. The wry humor shown at awkward moments was engaging.
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2/10
Movie with Potential, ruined by Poor characters
trufflelots18 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
The movie started off with such potential but it eventually gets annoying with movie clichés and annoying characters and scenarios one after another. Too much family drama, unrealistic for a disaster setting.

Of course in a disaster, you'd choose to block off a street with your cars, to ponder and argue with a professional who knows what she is doing and telling you. And of course when there are giant podhples appearing everywhere, you would naturally choose to push a baby stroller instead of just grabbing the baby to run (much less to say as a mother to just stand and stare in shock instead of running immediately when you see everyone else running)

Not to mention, of course people forget how to work seat belts in times of emergency.
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6/10
Worth seeing disaster thriller
Luigi Di Pilla21 February 2024
It worked for an entertaining evening despite the low rating on this website. The undergrounds of Sweden's town Kiruna are mysterious. If you like disaster movies of this genre you can expect a worth seeing low budget action thriller. The executed dramatic scenes are not coming cheesy here an looked really great. There are some flaws but if you can ignore it is okay.

It was never boring and quite fast paced with the dramatical countdown. The actors delivered all good performances. Don't hesitate.to watch the other disaster Hollywood blockbuster San Andrea.or the.series Chernobyl.

I give a vote of 6/10.
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3/10
The dumbest security expert and family
mmartic-2193721 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Oh dear, I don't even know where to start to describe how dumb all the people in this movie are.

Everyone is extremely slow during emergency. They do not communicate, run nor think it would be smart to at least bloody hurry up.

Everyone stands 1 inch from the rift while it's spreading, with the dumb looks on their faces, waiting to see if they will fall in eventually. You are kind of happy when they do, as you dont care about anyone there. No likeable characters whatsoever.

Noone thinks of running away from the cracks. They run towards the crack or just stand there like brainless NPC characters.

To make things more ridiculous, director thought it would be a great idea to make them spend a long time talking about family's love-dramas. Even while sitting at the edge of the growing sinkhole in the middle of the earthquake, while their family members are in imminent life danger.

Dead horse would have more natural reactions in emergency situations. Everyone is so annoying, especially the daughter.

Your brother/son is missing from the night before and your idea of searching for him doesnt start with phone calls?? It took them hours to try to call him. And they never thought of calling his friends? Yeah, lets just send a borderline girl to run around the town like a headless chicken, to "try" to find him.

And the way a mom acts as a security expert with her "dead horse" reactions is ridiculous.

The only somewhat redeeming scenes were the ones from the mine.

All in all, if you want to get angry before sleep, go and watch this movie. Otherwise, avoid it. I should have avoided it.
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6/10
It was okay.
maruma-1117526 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I don't speak Swedish so I watched it dubbed in English. Unfortunately sometimes dubbing takes a little bit away from the performance. I didn't know anything about Kiruna and now I have to read about it. The movie wasn't great. It was more family drama than disaster. It took too long to get to the actual disaster which was what I was there for.

There are two scenes that really bothered me. First when they are in the town and everything is falling apart, they come upon a mother who is just standing still with a toddler and an infant in a stroller. They urge her to run and Sabir grabs the toddler and starts running. Then instead of picking up the baby, Aila grabs the stroller and starts running. At no point does the mother try to run back and help her. Who does that?! When the stroller emerges from the smoke and they realize Aila is gone, the mother again just stands there. Terrible acting. A mother separated from her baby would be hysterical and would run to see if he is okay.

The other scene is when they are at the school and Frigga finds Simon and Tina. Tina was in more dire need but Frigga focuses on Simon. I get that Simon is her child and I also understand that maybe she felt that Tina was harder to get to and probably wasn't going to make it anyway but that child was in pain and scared and when she begs Frigga for help, instead of comforting her, she tells her to be quiet. I was shocked.

This was basically just something to watch while I was doing something else. I would not watch it again.
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1/10
Dont waste your time like i did
Matben9510 February 2024
"Avgrunden" falls short by focusing too heavily on family drama, sidelining the intriguing Kiruna mine story it promised. Instead of exploring the mine's societal and environmental impacts, the film gets bogged down in melodramatic family conflicts. This shift not only disappoints but misleads audiences, wasting the unique setting of Kiruna. The film tries to juggle too much, failing to deliver a compelling narrative on either front. It misses the chance to delve into the complexities of mining life, leaving viewers with a generic and unsatisfying family saga.

Dont waste your time like i did..
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8/10
Surprisingly high thrill level!
mickekarlsson197415 September 2023
Most Swedes are probably aware that the entire city of Kiruna in northern Sweden town has been been moved (and is still in the process of being moved) due to the LKAB mine expanding and the risk of cave ins are therefore substantial.

...or something along those lines.

This well-made and fantastically exciting Swedish disaster movie paints a scenario in which the impending collapse becomes fact.

Frigga (Tuva Novotny) is in charge of safety in the mine, and she tries to balance the relationship she has with her demanding job with the relationship she has with her two children and her ex-husband (David Franzén), and now also her new boyfriend (Kardo Razzazi) - who have just come up from Uppsala to surprise her in Kiruna, right on time for when everything starts going to hell.

Avgrunden certainly lives up to all the usual disaster movie standards: From a slow build of tension, to the total disaster - and everything in between.

It has characters with history, and whose personal lives you actually invest in - and to keep the tension high, the movie doesn't shy away from sacrificing a few of them.

But even if it is "standard", it is GOOD standard!

The scenes in the mine are claustrophobic on an unexpectedly high level, and the "crawling through the narrow passage" sequence in particular left me short of breath!

The chaos out on the street lacks those real mammoth proportions, but for a Swedish movie it was still impressive!

The last bit felt a little drawn out, and I would have preferred to instead see it woven into a longer disaster sequence, with the big collapse as the climax.

Richard Holm directs, and he has also written the screenplay together with his son Robin Holm aswell as Nicola Sinclair.

I have a difficult relationship with Swedish cinema, so I always get extra happy when a movie made in my home country surprises me, and this was 105 unexpectedly thrilling minutes in the movie theater!
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6/10
Decent Swedish drama
LetsReviewThat2620 February 2024
I will say first off a lot of these films on netflix are not the best. The dubbing at least is not great and the films lack something. In the case of abyss though it was alright. This movie is about a woman named friga who works security at a local mine in Sweden. She has an ex and a new man and like they sometimes do. They also have a daughter that's an eco terrorist. The family dynamic here is a messed one and they never really feel like a family. Anyway they know it's not safe the twon being there as it can collapse at anytime. I liked how they did that and the effects were all good and it was well put together. The script was not great and the acting from some was not the best either. But overall the abyss was pretty decent.
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3/10
Full of holes, plotholes that is
epost-2060717 February 2024
We have seen all of this before over the years but with better actors and better scripts (and better effects to be honest) Classic movies like Twister, Dante's peak, Volcano and Day after tomorrow.

But even new movies like Greenland, Deepawater horizon, San andreas fault and 2012 are way better and enjoyable than this.

As usual SVT is relentlessly using their form A making sure the women are strong, the men weak, the daughter dating a girl and the protagonist replacing the husband with a man from the middle east.

While each of those on their own could have worked they instead decide to go all in and the story suffers from it.

Tuva Novotny is trying hard but the rest of the cast is lacking and some are extremely poor.

It could be that the bad script are making them look worse than they are though.

I found the fact that they are moving an entire city fascinating and would actually prefer watching a movie/documentary about that instead.

Its sad but id rather rewatch the older movies i mentioned above than endure movies like this.
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2/10
OMG!
pannbyrd21 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I was excited to watch this film because I do enjoy the odd disaster film. Boy, was I disappointed. Could someone please tell me how the son, Simon, I think, falls into a crack in the Earth out in a place called 'the rift' but then ends up at HIS SCHOOL only to be rescued in the end!

This film has got to be the worst mash up of plots and sub-plots I have seen in a long time. The disaster itself, the massive collapse of the entire town, actually takes a backseat to the family dramas. The parents' divorce, the mom's new boyfriend, the daughter's gay relationship problems, the son's anger at said parents' divorce, and the drama goes on and on. I really began to hate almost all of the characters, except for the boyfriend who basically seemed shell-shocked to be involved in this mess!

Good grief!
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7/10
2012 Mini-Me
andrejsboka24 February 2024
In the 2023 cinematic venture "The Abyss," audiences are treated to an evocative exploration of life in and around a Swedish mining community. This film, distinct in its portrayal of everyday existence, intertwines the lives of its characters with the looming threats of collapse, earthquakes, and disaster.

What makes "The Abyss" stand out is its grounded approach to storytelling, offering a slice-of-life narrative enriched with relational dynamics, tension, and a sprinkling of mixed emotions. The movie's strength lies in its ability to maintain suspense. While the ending might not surprise many, it's the journey there-fraught with realistic challenges and decisions-that grips the viewer.

This element of realism sets it apart from other disaster films, rendering "The Abyss" akin to a mini-epic of catastrophe, reminiscent of the localized dramas seen in the 2012 film genre, but with a more realistic and human touch. The film is a commendable addition to Swedish cinema, marked by its realistic portrayal of both personal and communal crises. Its narrative is a testament to human resilience amidst external calamities and internal struggles, all while keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.

Despite its predictable conclusion, the film's journey is compelling, offering a rich tapestry of life that balances the mundane with the catastrophic."The Abyss" may not cater to the tastes of those accustomed to the spectacle of Hollywood blockbusters. Its charm lies in its unassuming delivery and the subtle complexities of life it chooses to explore. It stands as a sterling example of European filmmaking, particularly shining a light on the Swedish film industry's capability to produce thought-provoking and emotionally resonant narratives. For aficionados of European cinema and those seeking a film that delves into the essence of human existence against the backdrop of looming disaster, "The Abyss" is a must-watch. Its realistic approach, coupled with a keen observation of life's intricacies, makes for a compelling viewing experience that transcends the conventional disaster movie mold.
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1/10
A Lazy Family Drama with a Disaster in the Background
lukmaia18 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
This movie made my day horrendous, people should get paid to watch 2 hours of a stupid and weird family and a new guy who is sleeping with the mom and doesn't have a facial expression throughout the movie.

Not only a bad written script with dialogue that you could have with a chatGPT in a few seconds, but a ugly photography, bad acting from everyone and a disastrous direction.

The ending of the movie is a invite for you to rethink your life and your political beliefs on euthanasia.

Could've worked less atrocious if it didn't take itself so seriously, but for a "based on a real story" piece, well... it found the abyss for sure.
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7/10
Not as bad as some make out....
colinkhenry13 April 2024
Yes, it's an okay budget, and yes it's Swedish. But why do people compare against Hollywood films? There is more to life than Hollywood! The effects and the acting are not bad, the thing that let it down is the 'English' dubbed version is in American English. With which European languages do not translate correctly into American English. It's totally dubbed for the American market, yet it fails for the rest of the world. As a native British English speaker, I find it annoying with 'Americanisms' that are used where else in the world they are not!

I re watched it in Swedish with English American subtitles. Much much better! Give it a go in its native language!
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1/10
Predictable garbage full of clichés
MacNorrland18 September 2023
Plays out like it was written by a high school film student and their grandparents. Whoever wrote this needs to go back to school and find some creativity. Don't waste your hard earned money on this. It's a shame because the actors are good and the area it takes place in is historically interesting. But really none of the areas history is really explored and it may as well served as a green screen background with a b-grade story slapped on top of it. Useless romances and agrevated relations, poor CGI that looks like it came straight out of the 90s. This was meant to be one of Swedens big budget movies of the year. What a waste.
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4/10
Billionth chance of stuff happening a billion times
nora80081 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The movie script was awfully executed, ranging from the first scene being cut between two different scenes, with two different timelines - not making any sense why they wouldn't show the two scenes after each other, to having a billionth-chance-of-happening-things happening a billion times.

You get attached to some characters and then they create these insanely unlikely to happen or even forced by the script to happen, to kill those characters off.

They discover a several kilometers long hole in the cave and realise the whole city is about to collapse in any moment - so they urge to evacuate. They get trapped, manage to make it out, and they have to evacuate the city. Then what? They enter the city and act as if everything's okay. They stand and watch the asphalt. They were just in a hurry to evacuate everyone RIGHT NOW!!!!, yet, they're standing in the middle of everyone and isn't saying anything about the city about to collapse.

What happened to the urgency to evacuate everyone?

Don't get me started on the terrible and weird husband-whos-yet-not-divorced fight versus the "new one"...

Only reason I'm giving it 4 stars out of 10 is because the visualization was damning good, too bad concrete with steel reinforcements weighs less than frigolit in this universe, lol.
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9/10
Good movie
mnjonman1 April 2024
I've seen a couple of reviews for this movie that slams it.

Ignore them. If you want to be entertained, this is the movie for you.

Really outstanding casting, direction, sound effects, and acting with enough range between action, disaster, heartache and just plain feel good moments.

No political statements. No drawn out scenes. Hollywood obviously didn't touch this movie. The soundtrack actually fit the scenes, which is refreshing in today's society.

The one drawback IMHO was the editing. There were a couple scenes that appeared out of place.

Do yourself a favor and watch this movie. You won't regret it.
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5/10
An inept first catastrophe movie attempt from Sweden
OJT16 February 2024
I really was excited to hear about this movie, both as it's the first ever Swedish catastrophe movie, but also that it takes place in the unique town of beautiful Kiruna.

The film is based on an actual possible event. The town of Kiruna is in the process of being moved three kilometers away from where it's situated today due to that the substantial mining underneath is leading to the town's sinking. And moving a town with 23.000 inhabitants is a huge task.

I also had great hopes as I heard talented Tuva Novotny was the lead actress, as an actor always doing well.

The plot is that Novotny's character is in charge of safety in the mines, when the ground it starting to falter around them.

But disappointment was huge both to see silly instructing, bad acting (if not from Novotny) and cliché after cliché, and rather stupid action.

I'm afraid to say that the story is not at all exciting, and even worse, it's boring.

I take it that the Swedes are inspired by the many great catastrope movies coming out of Norway since 2011 (The Wave, The Quake, The Tunnel, The Burning Sea, Troll, People in the sun, Pioneer, etc) but this is not reaching up to any of them.
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4/10
Thin, predictable and boring
realbatman16 September 2023
This movie had potentially been really good if it wasn't a lot of family drama in it.

The bad language between young teenagers in the movie gives a bad message to viewers to.

It had some thrilling moments but nothing more.

This was a bad attempt to replicate other disaster movies.

I am sorry to say but I can't recommend this film at all.

There are better ways to spend money on theatre this days.

It pains me to see good actors in a bad picture.

I love Tuva and she has great potential if she only get the chance.

To summarize this movie I have to say that it lacked depth and it was quite messy.
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1/10
Worst Movie Award
shadowjjb1 March 2024
Horrible acting and writing, making me cringe throughout the entire movie... I was hoping that it would get better and never did, only worse. Too many scenes where everyone just stares at the cracks opening up and does nothing. Too many scenes of people walking really slowly in dangerous situations where they should be running for their lives. Really awkward scenes where people have small talks and heart-to-hearts while in situations that require immediate action when people are dying. Common sense is nonexistent in this movie. Don't waste your time like I did, I wish I could wipe it from my memory it was so bad! This is the kind of movie that leaves you mad at the end of it for being absolutely horrible for the entire movie.
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2/10
Terrible
zaldyrobin3 March 2024
This is one of those movies that makes people, both the characters of the movie and the viewers, look dumb as if we don't know how things work in real life. Or, maybe the people who made this movie don't know how things work in real life, simple things like how concrete breaks. The events are very badly written. There are so many parts of the movie where the things that are happening and how the characters were behaving are not realistic. Worse than other movies where people are running in random like walking towards hazard almost purposefully. Instead of feeling the 'thrill' it was mostly funny because of how silly it was. The actors are good but the directing is terrible. The outcome of the story is almost predictable.
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5/10
So mutch potential and they chose to go with family drama instead
arctic_cat_tjej20 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Quite good acting, an interesting story and beautiful scenery, but the characters are unlikeable. Instead of concentrating on the disaster and ways to overcome it, the plot spins more and more towards characters, their interactions (or lack of) and really stupid actions.

The only character that was likable died in the mine. The rest I either did not really care about or disliked. For example, I was very disappointed that "the father" died a heroic death. He was infuriating.

It's not the actors fault (they did a good job), but the plot made them to be egoistic, entitled and with almost non-existent communication skills.

This movie had a lot of potential to become a masterpiece and I was disappointed after seeing it.
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