The Abyss Reviews

Summary When a nuclear submarine mysteriously sinks, one diver (Harris) soon finds himself on an odyssey 25,000 feet below the ocean's surface where he confronts a mysterious force that has the power to change the world or destroy it. (20th Century Fox)

• Adventure

• Drama

• Mystery

• Sci-Fi

• Thriller

My Score

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Stupendously exciting and emotionally engulfing... With probing intelligence and passionate feeling, Cameron has raised the adventure film very close to the level of art.

The Abyss is at its best during such moments of reverie-when the abstract metaphors and the unique physicality of the deep sea setting come together to produce powerful, unvoiced meanings. The film does have its beckoning depths; what it needs is a more polished surface. [9 Aug 1989, Tempo, p.1]

This is probably the most underrated of Cameron's movies. It laid the foundation for much of what we see after, and has some absolutely stellar performances by the cast.

Abyss is an excellent Sci-Fi movie from James Cameron. Good production, realism of what is happening and great acting by Ed Harriss. Despite the great timing, suspense in the film holds the viewer. I advise everyone to watch, for some reason I do not understand about Abyss, many forget when they talk about James Cameron's filmography. The only disappointing thing is the children's finale with aliens.

The Abyss ends with a whimper. But it starts out with a bang that lasts for an exciting hour and a half. And that's enough to make it worth taking the plunge.

Weirdly, the film’s problem is that it revs up the tension so much that, like one character’s submersible sinking into the high pressure of the titular Abyss, it finally bursts. The climax – as Bud descends to defuse the nuke and meet the aliens – just doesn’t work.

Harris and Mastrantonio do have a strong death and resurrection sequence, but long before that, one is pining for a rubber shark or a plastic octopus -- anything, in fact, out of a good old low-tech thriller. [14 Aug 1989, p.79]

How many times can we be awestruck by Day-Glo Gumbies? And why do these creatures always travel with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir?

The Abyss' isn't abysmal, but it's a replay of hits we've already seen - a recycled "close encounters of the wet kind'' with far too few ideas of its own. [18 Aug 1989, Arts, p.10]

From same mastermind of Terminator and Titanic, about how the mission for retrieve a sunken nuclear submarine becomes an encounter with the uncanny, in the bottom of the sea. Astonishing special effects that not hampers the plot. For watch with a big bag of potato chips.

I absolutely loved this movie. Great effects, great story and some really memorable characters. Ed Harris in particular. Actually to go back, the effects in this were amazing back when it first came out. But even so, they only play a small part of the movie. Appearing at just the right moments. Overall: This was one of my favorite movies as a kid, still is today.

Probably the firsy Cameron's movie I'd watched. I had a better memory of this movie. In 1989, I'm sure it was a visual revolution but today this not so good.

For a movie of the year 1989 the movie is good, especially the special effects are incredibly great. The setting is perfect, because there are not so many AAA movies from the deep sea. The plot was also good and interesting. But the movie is too long and the worst part is Lindsey, she destroyed almost the whole movie with her overconfident and masculin behaviour. especially in the first part of the movie she was unbearable. Without her the movie could be easily 9/10

The true wonder of the movie seems to take a direct nosedive toward the abyss after temporarily becoming a long war crime drama. Special effects will grab anyone's attention, especially in 1989's case. The characters: developed. Romance: average. Action is "average" as well. The plotline is the center of attention, and it wouldn't be much of a movie without it. James Cameron's vision of aliens under the sea are not what you would expect. They appear like giant electric sea creatures that are distorted in a way, making the line hazy between a giant sea creature never before discovered and something that actually came from space. By the end, everyone could be thinking "entertainment under the surface, who knew?"

Academy Awards, USA

• 1 Win & 4 Nominations

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA

• 1 Win & 7 Nominations

20/20 Awards

• 2 Wins & 4 Nominations