Werner Herzog is one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, and he is known for his epic storytelling. Besides directing feature-length films, Herzog has made several documentaries on important issues. The filmmaker began his directing journey in the early 1960s with a short film named Herakles. Since then, Herzog has directed and acted in several films. However, his take on environmental conditions and the human psyche continues to be one of the most enthralling aspects of his career.
Over the years, Werner Herzog has created hard-hitting documentaries and explored several themes. His commitment to authenticity and taking risks during production extends his projects beyond the realm of cinema. The filmmaker has won many awards throughout his career and continues to be a force to be reckoned with. If you are looking to watch Werner Herzog documentaries online, here are some titles that should be on your watchlist.
Into the Abyss (2011)
This 2011 documentary is one of the shining examples of how a true crime documentary should be made. Into the Abyss primarily focuses on the inmates who have received death sentences. As the documentary progresses, viewers get to hear from the inmates about how they felt about their punishment. However, the documentary doesn’t just focus on them; it also explores a 2001 triple-murder case that shocked the nation. It features interviews with the people affected by the murder and people in the judicial system.
Initially, Into the Abyss looks like a normal true crime documentary, but as soon as it moves ahead, it feels more than that. The documentary doesn’t sensationalize things and takes a more empathetic approach. Moreover, it provides an in-depth insight into a story that makes a lot of people uncomfortable. It won the Best Documentary accolade at the 2011 edition of the BFI London Film Festival. Currently, it holds a rating of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Into the Abyss is available for streaming on Apple TV+, AMC+, Prime Video, and IFC Films.
Lessons of Darkness (1992)
War documentaries are always bleak, but Werner Herzog makes them bleaker even without showing actual visuals of the war. Lessons of Darkness tells the story of what happened after the Gulf War. However, it mainly focuses on the Kuwaiti oil fires that started in January 1991 and were extinguished in April 1991. The fires were caused by the military of Iraq while retreating from Kuwait in the Gulf War. The filmmaker takes a unique approach of infusing less commentary and fewer interviews. Instead, he focuses on showing images and videos of the devastation caused by the fires.
Most importantly, the documentary reveals certain aspects of the Gulf War that were never covered in mainstream media. Lessons of Darkness is one of Herzog’s most distressful documentaries, which is why it is so impactful. It currently holds a rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Lessons of Darkness is available to stream on MUBI and Prime Video.
Grizzly Man (2005)
Perhaps one of the most popular documentaries ever, Grizzly Man showcases why Werner Herzog is a genius storyteller. The 2005 documentary chronicles the journey of Timothy Treadwell, a man who spends most of his time living among grizzly bears. Treadwell continued documenting his life with the bears for over a decade. However, the bear enthusiast and his partner died in a bear attack in October 2003.
Herzog didn’t make this documentary on how Treadwell died. Instead, he focused on basic questions like: why did a man make such a risky decision to live among animals known as apex predators? This project is a testament to Werner Herzog’s masterful storytelling.
Grizzly Man is available to stream on Prime Video.
