Ron Howard’s latest film, “Eden”, takes a fact-based story of utopian dreams gone awry and transforms it into a darkly funny, star-studded descent into chaos. Premiering at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and set for U.S. release on August 22, 2025 via Vertical, the film balances biting humor with bleak truths about human nature.
A Utopian Dream Unravels
Based on real events, Eden follows Dr. Friedrich Ritter (Jude Law) and his partner Dora Strauch (Vanessa Kirby), who move to Floreana Island in the Galapagos after World War I, seeking to escape society and create a new world order. Friedrich, plagued by writer’s block and lofty delusions of “saving humanity,” soon discovers that even in isolation, people bring their flaws — and conflicts — with them.
Their precarious existence is disrupted by new arrivals, beginning with the Wittmer family — Heinz (Daniel Brühl), his wife Margret (Sydney Sweeney), and son Harry — who arrive enchanted by Friedrich’s self-published accounts of paradise. Soon after comes the flamboyant and delusional Baroness Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn (Ana de Armas), with her entourage of lovers and a grand plan to build a luxury hotel for millionaires.
Performances That Elevate the Madness
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Jude Law embodies Friedrich as a pompous but unraveling intellectual.
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Vanessa Kirby delivers resilience and rawness as Dora, grappling with illness and disillusionment.
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Sydney Sweeney steals scenes, most notably in a wild sequence where she fights off feral dogs while giving birth.
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Ana de Armas brings chaotic energy and comedic brilliance as the Baroness, commanding every scene she’s in.
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The ensemble, rounded out by Felix Kammerer and Toby Wallace, embraces the absurdity of the situation, creating a mix of tension and dark hilarity.
Howard’s Balance of Tone
Though at times the drama lacks the bloodthirsty bite its premise promises, Howard keeps the film fast-paced and tonally sharp. With a screenplay by Noah Pink, Eden cleverly infuses humor into its Lord of the Flies–style collapse of community, offering biting commentary on ambition, greed, and human folly.
Visually, the barren yet beautiful Galapagos setting contrasts sharply with the decay of relationships and ideals. The retro sheen of costumes and atmosphere underscores how out of sync Friedrich’s grandiose philosophy is with harsh reality.
Final Verdict
While it occasionally softens the darker edges of its story, “Eden” succeeds as an entertaining, darkly comic ensemble piece. With standout performances, sharp humor, and Ron Howard’s steady direction, the film proves that even the collapse of paradise can be funny, ironic, and painfully human.
Grade: B
