How Does The Underworld Work In 'The Odyssey' (& What Makes It So Cool)?
The Odyssey (2026) takes Odysseus and his crew across the ancient Greek world, all on a quest to make it back to Ithaca. They find themselves contending with monstrous creatures, deadly warriors, and the wraith of the gods that they've angered along the way. As part of Christopher Nolan's directorial vision, the film offers some unique takes on ancient settings.
This extends to the Underworld, which has been depicted in plenty of other films and shows over the years. Nolan's version is one of the most memorable takes ever put to film, a haunting rendition that perfectly plays into the themes of the adaptation. Here's why the Underworld is so crucial to The Odyssey and how it compares to other incarnations.
How Does The Underworld Work In 'The Odyssey'
The Underworld in The Odyssey operates like most iterations of the afterlife, serving as the final resting place for the souls of the dead. This version of the Underworld is connected to the real world through the land of Oceanus, where a volcanic peak meets with an icy river. It is here that Odysseus and his crew are able to briefly dock and converse with the dead, thanks to Circe, who instructs Odysseus on how to use blood sacrifices so that the shades of people can briefly have the ability to speak. The first to speak is the blind prophet Tiresias, who gives Odysseus poor tidings for his fellow soldiers, even as he prophesies that Odysseus will make it home.
It is here that countless soldiers rise out of the sands of the endless beach, even if Sinon and Agamemnon are the only two who really speak to Odysseus. It’s a haunting take on the concept of the Underworld, with the shades only wishing to know what remains of those they left behind and taste a brief flash of life again. The horde of shades then chase after Odysseus and his crew, although none of them actually manage to claim the still-alive soldiers. It’s altogether one of the creepiest and most atmospheric sections of The Odyssey and arguably the best depiction of the Underworld in cinema.
How 'The Odyssey's Underworld Compares To Other Cinematic Versions
While there are plenty of afterlives across film history, few of them have ever been as memorable as the one seen in The Odyssey. For the most part, underworlds in film are usually depicted as a very Christian-inspired Heaven or Hell, although some, like Eternity (2025), take liberties with the concept to create something more unique. The specific Underworld of Greek myth has actually only appeared in a handful of films, despite the concept of the River Styx being a pretty well-worn trope in fiction.
The Underworld was glimpsed in shows like Kaos (2024) as a monochrome setting where the dead are largely listless in the mechanics of existence. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010) took cues from usual depictions of Hell, making it industrialized to reflect the craftsmanship tied to mythological tales of Hades. The Underworld of Clash of the Titans (2010) and Blood of Zeus (2020) is a fearsome place that is foreboding and grim.
One of the harshest portrayals of the Underworld may still be the one seen in Disney’s Hercules (1997), which depicted shades as suffering eternally in the River Styx amid the sharp and grim rule of an overtly villainous Hades. However, the Underworld of The Odyssey is no less harsh, although the shades bitterly admitting how much they miss life makes it more sad than scary.
Why The River Styx Is So Important To 'The Odyssey'
The Underworld is a crucial stop along the way in The Odyssey, both from a narrative space and a thematic angle. The film positions Odysseus’ journey as one of self-reflection over grief and guilt, leading to him contending with the regret he feels over changing the world with his great victory over the Trojans. The Underworld is populated with countless soldiers who died because of Odysseus’s choices during the war, the literalization of the blood on his hands, and the cost of his actions.
Much of The Odyssey is about Odysseus’ attempts to wrestle with his guilt and being forced to explain himself to his former companion, Sinon. The setting is the most overtly supernatural place the characters encounter, a place where their humanity is placed in stark contrast to the full extent of the mysterious universe around them.
It’s also a place where the loyalties and crimes of the living are left as nothing but memories, a final grim resting place where heroics and station mean nothing in the long run. It’s beyond Odysseus and his men in every way, making it all the more vital as a part of the world they see on their trek home. In the end, Odysseus vows to honor the fallen by sailing west, something he does at the end of the film with Penelope as an attempt to appease the restless spirits he saw in the Underworld. It’s the key to Odysseus’ redemption, and a chance to make up for his actions and save himself. It’s one of the most crucial parts of the film’s version of Odysseus’ journey and easily one of the most visually striking.
