Earlier this
month, I reviewed two Ocean themed Science Fiction movies … and they were
1961’s “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea” and 1973’s “The Neptune
Factor: An Undersea Odyssey”. Now, we come to a third film in my own
set-trilogy of Ocean Themed Sci-Fi movie reviews … 1989’s “The Abyss”,
and subsequently one of my all-time favorite movies of the genera. While it’s
easy for me to slip into a fun action movie or a goofy comedy, the Sci-Fi
genera has always been my personal favorite category of film. It’s a genera
that’s built on fantastical ideas, inspiring visuals, thematic storytelling,
and ambitious film-making.
It’s the kind of genera that expands the imagination,
and can transport the audience to worlds that fit right in with the wonders of
what film can create. However, I feel the Sci-Fi genera has frequently lost its
identity over the years, and is far too often tied-in with hi-voltage summer
Blockbusters, or special effects driven action flicks. Every once and a while,
the combination of action and Sci-Fi can go hand in hand, resulting in classics
like “The Matrix” or “Terminator 2: Judgement Day”, but still, I
prefer when Sci-Fi takes a step back from flashy action spectacles. “The
Abyss” is 100%, true Science Fiction cinema at it’s finest, one that
invokes a sense of awe and wonder, without losing itself in a sea of mindless excitement.
The film was written and directed by the great James Cameron, who was just
coming of the success of both “The Terminator” and “Aliens”, both
of which were game changers for the Sci-Fi genera. However, they too dabbled in
the fast-moving action genera, while “The Abyss” was Cameron’s first time
really creating his own world, and following the simple guide lines of making
... not just a terrific new Sci-Fi, but a genuinely great movie on its own.
The movie begins with a US Sub carrying nuclear
missiles, mysteriously sinking to the bottom of the Cayman Trench, out in the
middle of the Caribbean Sea. With Soviet ships moving in to try salvaging the
sub, and a hurricane moving over the area, the U.S. government sends a SEAL
team, along with Dr. Lindsey Brigman to team-up with the workers of an
underwater ocean facility called “Deep Core”.
Together, they go diving in search
for survivors, as well as safe guard the missiles. While investigating the wreckage,
individual team members begin encountering strange oddities, like creatures
that seem to glow before them, and manipulate the image of water. It’s soon discovered
that an alien race has likewise landed their ship at the bottom of the abyss,
and is trying to make contact with the humans. While most of them are
determined to peacefully make first contact with this mysterious race, one crew-member
is terrified of them, and aims to use the recovered nuclear missiles to wipe
them out, even if it means taking out the team in the process.
This film easily
fits in with the classic alien contact movies along the lines of “The Day
the Earth Stood Still”, and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”. H.
G. Wells was initially the first to introduce the notion of “sea aliens” in his
1897 short story "In the Abyss". However, the real inspiration
for James Cameron’s deep-sea Sci-Fi first took shape back when he was in high
school, and attended a science lecture about deep sea diving by Francis J.
Falejczyk … who was the first human to breathe fluid through his lungs. This concept likewise carries
over into the film, as it features the lead diver breathing through a fluid substance. Cameron was also exposed to a short story focusing on a group of scientists in a
laboratory at the bottom of the ocean. Thus, Cameron’s ideas for “The Abyss”
took shape, and while the basic idea did not change, many of the details
evolved over the years.
It definitely contains all the trademarks
of Cameron’s films, including an enormous budget, an ecological message, and
cutting-edge technology. It’s also a fascinating concept to come into contact
with Aliens at the bottom of the ocean, as the sea itself is just as mysterious,
vast and alien to us as outer-space itself.
The creature designs on display are
highly original, as these Aliens almost look like a cross between a star fish
and an angel. The effects on display were utterly gorgeous marvels for the time,
and they still look stunning all these years later. Before “Terminator 2:
Judgment Day” or “Jurassic Park”, this was one of the first big budget
Sci-Fi’s to utilize the new tool of CGI to create such lush visuals, the likes
of which were never possible before. Sense the visuals revolve around these
transparent sea creatures and the manipulation of water, it allows the effect
to still look convincing, unlike other movies of the 90’s, which have really
dated CGI. Naturally, at the 1990 Academy Awards, “The
Abyss” won the Oscar for best visual effects, as well as received three
additional nominations for best art direction, best cinematography and best
sound design. Of Course, I also have to mention the incredible music score composed by the great Alan Silvestri. This score hits all the right notes, as it gradually transitions from the enchanting discoveries, to the dark and mysterious. Some of his music ques remind me of the score later composed for Disney's "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" ... another undersea Sci-Fi venture.
Equally as important as the effects … are the
characters, who are all excellent in this movie. While some of the cast members
are recognizable, I never once feel like I’m watching actors on a set.
They all
feel like real workers, with distinct personalities on display, and the
performances all-around are solid. Ed Harris stars as “Bud”, the leader of the
Deep Core team, and he delivers a driving performance with natural tension and
rough emotion. His ex-wife Dr. Lindsey Brigman is played with equal emotional
commitment by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, who I’ve always associated with Maid
Marian from “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”. Had this ocean crew been
less interesting, or believable in their respected roles, they wouldn’t have
carried the slow build-up of the films first act. Just like “Blade Runner”,
this is a major studio sci-fi movie that doesn’t rely on poppy hooks, and instead
slowly submerges the viewer with some big concepts and methodical pacing. Make
no mistake, “The Abyss” has a lengthy run time, and it takes a little
while before any big events happen. For me, this works in the films favor, as
it makes the setting feel real, and lived in. Then when all the exciting Sci-Fi
elements take shape, I feel completely submersed in both the experience, and
the genuine suspense of a growing situation in the movies third act.
The film is actually quite suspenseful,
gripping, and quiet claustrophobic. The action on display during the third act is subtle, and doesn’t go for fast-excitement. Yet, it still feels thrilling,
as it’s all very “in-the-moment”, and it’s the emotions conveyed that
really drive the excitement. The whole climax focuses on our lead, as he descends
deeper in the abyss by himself in an effort to deactivate a nuclear bomb that slipped
to the bottom of the cavern.
It’s a very emotional and suspenseful sequence, as
he frequently looses consciousness, and the only thing keeping him going is a
texted conversation he’s maintaining with his wife. Eventually, he’s rescued by the aliens, taken
aboard the space ship, and we get a relevant anti-war message. At this
point in the film, I’d recommend watching the extended directors cut. In this version,
all previous events were played against a backdrop of a conflict between the
United States and the Soviet Union, with the potential for all-out war, and the
sinking of the sub additionally fuels the aggression. When Bud is taken to the
alien ship, they start showing him images of war and aggression from news
sources around the globe. The aliens then create massive mega-tsunamis that
threaten the world's coasts, but the aliens stop them short before hitting any towns. Bud asks why
they spared the humans, and they show Bud his previous message to his wife Lindsey.
Personally, I feel the directors-cut has the stronger ending, and I feel the message
just leaves the bigger impact. The ending sequence with the alien ship rising out of the ocean is one of my favorite visuals in all of Sci-Fi cinema, and it just leaves this impact on me every time I watch it.
In my view, “The Abyss” stands as
an important testament to both Science Fiction cinema, and original movie
material in general. It’s something we’ve lost sight of over the years, as
we’re so caught-up in fast paced escapes, or familiar franchises. All these
years later, “The Abyss” is still an aw-inspiring motion picture, and
one that can potentially inspire filmmakers for years to come. It’s visuals are
still breathtaking, the characters are engaging, the claustrophobic suspense is
downright thrilling, and the themes are still timely. It’s an excellent film on
all grounds, yet I fear it’s lost its popularity over the years. I’m sure
people still remember this film, but not enough people really talk about it, or
celebrate it. While certain Sci-Fi classics like “The Day the Earth Stood
Still”, “2001: A Space Odyssey”, and “Close Encounters of the
Third Kind” are still regarded as the best of it’s respected genera, let’s
not forget to include “The Abyss” as one of those greats. It’s the kind
of film I want Hollywood to challenge itself to make more of, and maybe one
day, my favorite movie genera can once again be viewed as more than just
escapist entertainment.
Thanks for reading my review of the
1989 Sci-Fi classic “The Abyss” … and continue to enjoy the movies you love.
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