The Abyss (1988 film)
The Abyss is a 1989 American science fiction film written and directed by James Cameron and starring Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Michael Biehn. The film follows a civilian diving team enlisted to search for a lost nuclear submarine in the Cayman Trough. During their search, they encounter a mysterious underwater intelligence.
Plot Summary
When the American nuclear submarine USS Montana mysteriously sinks near the Cayman Trough, the U.S. Navy seeks assistance from Deepcore, an experimental underwater drilling rig. The Deepcore crew, led by Virgil "Bud" Brigman (Harris), includes his estranged wife, Lindsey Brigman (Mastrantonio), the rig's designer. A Navy SEAL team, led by Lieutenant Hiram Coffey (Biehn), is assigned to Deepcore to investigate the wreck.
As the team investigates the submarine, they discover evidence of an unknown force. Coffey, paranoid about a potential Soviet threat, becomes increasingly erratic and fixated on using a nuclear warhead retrieved from the Montana. Meanwhile, the Deepcore crew begins experiencing encounters with strange, bioluminescent creatures they dub "NTIs" (Non-Terrestrial Intelligences).
Lindsey believes the NTIs are benevolent and attempts to communicate with them. Bud, initially skeptical, is eventually convinced of their existence. Coffey, driven by fear and misinformation, attempts to detonate the warhead to destroy the NTIs, but Bud intervenes, severing Deepcore's cables to prevent further damage. In a desperate attempt to prevent the detonation, Bud dives to an extreme depth to disarm the warhead.
With oxygen running out, Bud prepares to die. Lindsey revives him using liquid breathing technology, enabling him to survive the extreme pressure and depth. The NTIs then transport Bud to their massive, otherworldly underwater city. There, they examine his humanity, and impressed by his sacrifice, prevent the war between the United States and the Soviet Union. The film concludes with the NTIs raising Deepcore and its crew to the surface, revealing their existence to the world.
Cast
- Ed Harris as Virgil "Bud" Brigman
- Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Lindsey Brigman
- Michael Biehn as Lieutenant Hiram Coffey
- Leo Burmester as Catfish De Vries
- Todd Graff as Alan "Hippy" Carnes
- John Bedford Lloyd as Jammer Willis
- J.C. Quinn as Arliss "Sonny" Dawson
- Kimberly Scott as Lisa "One Night" Standing
Production
The Abyss was known for its challenging underwater filming conditions. The film was shot in a specially constructed tank in Gaffney, South Carolina. The film also pioneered the use of computer-generated imagery (CGI) for the water tendril sequences, which were groundbreaking for their time and earned the film an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
Release and Reception
The Abyss was released in 1989. It received mixed reviews upon its initial release. While praised for its visual effects and underwater photography, some critics found the plot convoluted and the ending anticlimactic. However, the film has gained a cult following over time and is now considered a science fiction classic. Two versions of the film exist: the theatrical cut and the special edition, which features additional scenes that further develop the alien presence and their influence on world events.
Awards
- Academy Award for Best Visual Effects (1990)