In the 1930’s, a group of settlers on an island in the Galapagos became the focus of intrigue around the world. At first the admiration was merely about how those brave souls had fled society and built lives for themselves in an inhospitable environment. They had conquered nature, and the hearts and minds of the public in the process. Then came the disappearances, deaths, and the mystery that completely changed the narrative around the island of Floreana. It is these events that director Ron Howard tackles in Eden. Though the execution is far from perfect, he proves that the story is still absolutely captivating today.

Howard chooses to primarily focus the story on Margret Wittmer (Sydney Sweeney), a young wife and mother making the best of the simple life her husband, Heinz (Daniel Brühl), has dragged her into on the island. There is some tension with their new neighbors, the Ritters (Jude Law and Vanessa Kirby), but things are mostly peaceful. However, the arrival of the self-centered and manipulative Baroness Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn (Ana de Armas) destroys the delicate balance and starts a chain of events that threaten the lives of everyone on the island.

There’s not a single member of the cast that isn’t at the top of their game here. Whether because of the thrill of working with Howard or simply a love for the material, it’s obvious that everyone involved gave everything they had to make this movie great. In particular, Sweeney and de Armas are unbelievably good. The conflict between them and their approach to life on the island is the centerpiece of the film, and both actresses dig deep to deliver powerhouse performances.  

Howard is also fantastic behind the camera. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the cinematography, editing, and sound design are all top notch. He manages to make the island feel alive and dangerous at all times, and the tension between its inhabitants is palpable. This kind of dark, broody, despair driven affair is not Howard’s usual stomping ground, but he is such a talented director that it never feels like it gets away from him.

As good as the cast and the direction are, though, the flaws rear their heads in the script. Some of the dialogue is a bit stale, the pacing leaves a lot to be desired, and the plot is often repetitive. At one point the exact same confrontation plays out three separate times, and by the third it’s frankly exhausting. All of these issues could have been solved by chopping about 20 minutes off of the runtime. As is though, it creates the effect of jumping back and forth between loving the movie and wishing that it would just get on with it already.

Truthfully, Eden is a perfectly average movie buoyed by great performances. It drags at inopportune times and can be boring, until one of the cast drags you back in the story. That said, the cast does that rather a lot, so it’s not all that noticeable of a problem. Much like the island at its core, Eden is far from perfect. However, if you can adjust to its difficulties, it may be worth the struggle.