“The Abyss,” a Swedish disaster movie, is the second most-watched film on Netflix worldwide, just behind the docu-drama “Einstein and the Bomb,” according to FlixPatrol. The film was released on the platform on Feb. 15th, meaning that it has gained popularity within only four days.
The movie’s name comes from a crack that could gulp down Kiruna, Sweden. It’s inspired by the actual town, which is moving completely two miles to the east because extensive mining beneath the city has caused geological instability.
A Nordic noir veteran, Richard Holm, known for titles such as The Machinery and Gåsmamman, directs the movie, which is not only interested in the natural disasters but also in the cracks of a suburban family.
Who is part of the cast of ‘The Abyss’?
The movie Tuva Novotny, who in the United States is known for her English-language credits such as “Borg vs McEnroe” and “Annihilation.” The rest of the cast includes: Kardo Razzazi, Peter Franzén, Felicia Truedsson, Edvin Ryding, Angela Kovács, and Tintin Poggats Sarri.
Plot: What happens in ‘The Abyss’?
The story follows Frigga, a workaholic mother, who manages security at the Kiirunavaara mine where she has to deal with the animosity between her new partner Dabir and her ex-husband Tage. Meanwhile, her daughter Mika and her girlfriend are involved in local protests, and her son Simon is dealing with the aftermath of his parents’ divorce.
However, when an unexpected earthquake strikes, the challenges of everyday life fade into insignificance as the family must unite to avoid being swallowed by the looming abyss.
Reviews for ‘The Abyss’
Jon O’Brien from Inverse recommends the film for those “who prefer their disaster flicks without so much bombast,” as the film does a decent job with the destruction sequences despite not having unlimited resources.
John Serba from Decider also praises the practical effects of the film, and says that the movie “is mostly believable in its portrayal of smallish-scale disaster” with heroics that “are of this earth and unspectacular.”
