Few filmmakers have achieved the consistent blockbuster success of James Cameron in Hollywood. He’s been a marquee name for over 40 years, directing some of the biggest and most beloved genre films of all time. Even after a 13-year hiatus, his return with a sequel could draw massive box office numbers, a testament to his enduring appeal.
While his commercial success is undeniable, Cameron’s critical acclaim has only grown in recent years. Despite this popularity, his filmography includes at least one underrated gem: 1989’s ‘The Abyss.’ Released between ‘Aliens’ and ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day,’ this underwater sci-fi thriller has consistently flown under the radar for the past 35 years. Though it has a loyal fanbase, it hasn’t received the same attention as Cameron’s other works, which is a shame, as ‘The Abyss’ ranks high among his most technically impressive and emotionally moving films.
Set in the early 1990s, ‘The Abyss’ centers on the sinking of a U.S. submarine following an encounter with an underwater object of unknown origin. To investigate the cause of the accident before Soviet ships can claim the wreckage, a special team is deployed to an underwater drilling platform near the Cayman Trough, the site of the initial collision.
Dr. Lindsey Brigman (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), the platform’s designer, is forced to reunite with its overseer, Bud (Ed Harris), her estranged husband. Upon their arrival, tension between them isn’t the only challenge Lindsey faces. She and the rest of the team encounter luminescent, seemingly alien beings, a discovery that sends them into varying degrees of confusion and fear.
Cameron masterfully portrays the human reactions to this alien presence, with some displaying healthy curiosity while others fear for their safety. As always, he is both a gifted craftsman and an expert entertainer, making the human conflicts in ‘The Abyss’ as compelling and tense as the film’s larger themes and overarching story.
Character development is just as important as the action set pieces. A second-act submarine battle is exceptionally well-constructed, not only for its believability thanks to Cameron’s practical underwater stunts but also for the ease with which he guides the viewer through the geography of the conflict and its escalating stakes. The climax, an ingeniously paced and staged implosion that eliminates the film’s primary antagonist, further elevates the sequence.
Cameron extracts remarkable performances from Mastrantonio and Harris. If the viewer doesn’t believe in the depth of their characters’ relationship, ‘The Abyss’ fails, but Mastrantonio and Harris ensure that it doesn’t. They overcome the physical demands of the production, delivering performances that are both heroic and heartbreaking.
While the film features sci-fi elements, it’s ultimately more about marriage than aliens. The gradual mending of Lindsey and Bud’s relationship forms the thematic and emotional core of ‘The Abyss,’ elevating it to greater heights and ensuring its sci-fi elements resonate on a human level. Through their marriage, Cameron explores the complexities of forgiveness and love, advocating that it’s never too late to save a relationship.
This argument is reinforced when Bud willingly embarks on a dangerous, potentially fatal mission to disarm a missile aimed at the film’s unsuspecting alien beings. His efforts pave the way for the film’s hopeful, life-affirming ending, where Cameron makes a poignant case for why humanity’s greatest strength lies in empathy, compassion, and growth.
The film’s themes acquire a broader, social meaning in the extended special edition, which sets the events against a backdrop of escalating U.S.-Soviet tension. However, even in this version, it is Lindsey and Bud’s marriage that binds all of ‘The Abyss” ideas – both cultural and personal – together. This demonstrates one of Cameron’s greatest strengths as a filmmaker: despite working with massive budgets and fictional worlds, he never loses sight of the human stories at their heart.
While ‘The Abyss’ may not be as well-known as ‘Titanic’ or ‘Avatar: The Way of Water,’ its growing legacy speaks volumes. It deserves to be remembered alongside Cameron’s greatest achievements, a testament to its enduring quality and thought-provoking exploration of humanity. ‘The Abyss’ is currently streaming on Hulu.
