Sydney Sweeney, Ana de Armas, and Vanessa Kirby’s new survival thriller, Eden, looks so good that I’m more confused about it than before. Directed by Oscar-winner Ron Howard, the upcoming film follows a group of people who travel to an uninhabited island in the Galápagos during the early 20th century, hoping to live a peaceful and utopian lifestyle.

However, as tensions escalate and desperation sets in, a dark power struggle emerges, resulting in betrayal, violence, and the loss of half of the colony’s members. Eden features an excellent cast led by Jude Law, Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby, and Sydney Sweeney alongside Daniel Brühl, Jonathan тιтtel, Richard Roxburgh, Toby Wallace, and Felix Kammerer.

Eden premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival back in September 2024 and divided critics, with some praising its cast and bold direction, but others criticizing its lack of focus, tonal inconsistency, and failure to fully realize its ambitious premise. However, a new trailer makes Eden look much better than expected.

Eden’s Teaser Trailer Makes The Thriller With An A-List Cast Look Great

It Looks Exceptionally Violent & Carnal

Eden‘s teaser trailer makes the survival thriller with an A-list cast look great. First off, the film looks exceptionally violent and carnal. In doing so, Eden appears to be an exploration of human nature, as Dr. Friedrich Ritter and his wife Dora Strauch flee their native Germany in 1929 to reject the bourgeois ideals they believe are corrupting humanity.

However, they can’t escape mankind’s true nature, as their life on the island eventually devolves into deceit, theft, and darker impulses. The trailer features scenes of primal violence, seductive encounters, and desperate power plays that hint at the film’s brutal and carnal undercurrent. Eden promises more than just a survival thriller – it’s a provocative dissection of human nature.

The A-list cast also looks great. Ana de Armas is exceptionally well cast as Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn, a self-described baroness and the “embodiment of perfection.” With its bold concept and a lineup of talented A-list actors, Eden promises to be at least an entertaining watch, even if it doesn’t quite reach the heights of great cinema.

Eden Has Already Divided Critics Early On Following Its Festival Debut

What Are The Critics Saying?

Eden has already divided critics early on following its festival debut. For instance, in ScreenRant‘s Eden review, Mae Abdulbaki suggests the film succeeds at showcasing “how quickly [humans] can turn on each other.” Others echoed that praise, with AwardsWatch‘s Mina Takla calling it “engrossing and entertaining,” despite its tonal inconsistencies. The AU Review deemed it director Ron Howard’s “most exciting project in over a decade.”

Still, many critics weren’t won over. Film Inquiry‘s Wilson Kwong writes that the film “fails to captivate,” despite its talented cast. Discussing Film‘s Beatrine Shahzad called it “another forgettable film,” while That Shelf‘s Ethan Dayton feels the real-life events the film is based on are “far more interesting” than what’s on-screen. Mashable‘s Siddhant Adlakha was more blunt, describing the film as “numbingly dull, and ugly as sin.”

Some praise is centered specifically on Ana de Armas, with The Playlist‘s Ankit Jhunjhunwala calling her “one of the most entertaining and memorable villains in recent memory.” IndieWire‘s Kate Erbland enjoyed the film’s chaotic energy, calling it “fun” despite its bleak subject. Variety‘s Owen Gleiberman simply labeled it “terrible,” and The Guardian‘s Benjamin Lee laments that Howard was a “very bad fit.”

I Hope Eden Is Much Better Than The Bad Reviews Suggest

Ron Howard Can Be Hit Or Miss

Ron Howard is an Oscar-winning director with undeniable storytelling instincts, though the filmmaker isn’t immune to misfires. For instance, films like The Dilemma and In the Heart of the Sea weren’t exactly high points of Howard’s career, but he’s also capable of creating compelling and emotionally resonant cinema when he’s at his best. For now, it seems like Eden could fall on either side of that coin.

That’s why Eden still holds some promise. However, it’s hard to see how Eden, while maybe not a perfect movie, will be boring, as the bad reviews suggest, between its seductive premise and a powerhouse cast. Sometimes, polarizing films are the most interesting – they can challenge, unsettle, and demand conversation. Whether Eden ends up being great or a misstep, at least it’s attempting something bold.