The Abyss (1989)

The Abyss (1989)

7/10

Starring

Ed Harris

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio

Michael Biehn

 

 

Directed by James Cameron

James Cameron’s The Abyss is a magnificent movie about the idea of, “What if aliens have been here all along?” The idea of aliens living deep underwater can be traced back to H.G. Wells’ short story from 1897, In the Abyss.

The special effects of this movie are way ahead of its time. Considering the movie is over two hours long, there is no dull moment. I was captivated and lost in the intrigue, suspense, and the somewhat action-packed sequences of this claustrophobic thriller.

Cameron wrote and directed the movie in such a way that, if it’s not the idea of aliens that grabs your attention, it’s the couple going through the motions of their relationship, or the military officer who seems to have lost all sense of reason.

Everything happens on an underwater drilling platform after a submarine is sunk when it almost comes in contact with an unidentified moving object traveling at a speed too fast to comprehend. The object moves past them, causing all the electrical machinery of the submarine to shut off for a few seconds. When things come back online, the submarine is already heading toward a collision, which sinks it.

The Soviets are trying to get to the submarine to salvage what might be on board, and the US is trying to retrieve their submarine and save any possible survivors first.

This race is another part of the movie that has nothing to do with the unidentified object that caused the submarine to crash. With a cast led by Ed Harris (playing Bud), the man in charge of the underwater drilling platform, the crew on the platform is enticed with a big payday if they help a SEAL team with their mission concerning the submarine.

The Navy SEAL team is sent to the platform with Dr. Lindsey, the designer of the rig, played by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. Her character is explosive, and she plays Lindsey with so much emotion bubbling on the surface. There’s never a dull moment when she’s at the forefront of any scene.

When it’s discovered that things on the sunken submarine are beyond redemption, the SEAL team gets new orders, which don’t sit well with Bud, Lindsey, or Bud’s team. A storm from above causes a crane to crash onto the underwater rig, leading to deaths and other problems for the team.

Cameron had the idea for this film since he was a teenager and, over the years, changed many things to make the idea suitable for the big screen. His love for deep-sea exploration began with this movie, which led him to develop technologies that have helped film deep-sea explorations since then.

The movie won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects, along with three other nominations. In the 80s, with films like The Terminator and Aliens, Cameron was on a roll, creating movies that will forever be seen as classics.