Eden

Review by Ryan Michael Painter

It’s an incredibly strange world when a film with a remarkable cast and an award-winning director can slip almost entirely under my radar. That’s the case with Eden. I’m happy to dive in on this one. So, let’s get to it.

**NOTE: You can read Ryan’s review below, then listen or watch as he and Mark discuss the film further. Remember, though, you can listen to all our discussions of this and every other movie directly over on ACAST. Stay tuned.**

129 Minutes, Rated R

Directed by Ron Howard

Written by Noah Pink

Synopsis:

Eden unravels the shocking true story of a group of disillusioned outsiders (Jude Law, Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby, Daniel Brühl, and Sydney Sweeney) who abandon modern society in search of a new beginning. Settling on a remote, uninhabited island, their utopian dream quickly unravels as they discover that the greatest threat isn’t the brutal climate or deadly wildlife, but each other.  What follows is a chilling descent into chaos where tensions spiral, desperation takes hold, and a twisted power struggle leads to betrayal, violence, and the deaths of half the colony.

Heinz and Margret have traveled to a remote island with their son Harry to improve Harry’s health, abandon society, and live with famed isolationist Ritter and his partner Dore. Ritter is less than hospitable. The dynamics of the island are completely upended by the arrival of a Baroness and her male attendants who intend on building an exclusive hotel on the island.

The relationship between the three groups is splintered from the very beginning. Time will only push them closer together and further apart. For the occupants of the island, a philosophy of self-interest is in order.

Based on the contradictory accounts of those who survived the experience, Eden puts human nature under the microscope. What we, the audience, sees is predictable. Fortunately, that doesn’t take away from the viewing experience as Eden offers some unexpected turns and redirections on its journey.

Eden is populated by selfishness. Any effort by the characters to connect is motivated by self-interest. Those expecting a typical Ron Howard film might be surprised by the lack of warmth. Those looking at the news of today, however, might find the inability of the characters to live with each other as a given.

The acting is strong; the story is interesting and often infuriating. It does feel a touch too long. Pushing off the inevitable can be an exhausting exercise for audiences. Well, it was for me. I don’t know that I’d call Eden fun, but it certainly entertains.

Eden stars Jude Law, Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby, Daniel Bruhl, and Sydney Sweeney and is in theaters August 22, 2025.

And remember, if the BEST thing you can say about a movie is that it’s “visually stunning,” then they’ve done something wrong.

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