Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share The Abyss (1989) Review: James Cameron's Underwater Masterpiece
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
The Abyss (1989) Review: James Cameron's Underwater Masterpiece
In this episode of Sci-Fi Graveyard, Joseph, Jeremy, and Josh dive deep into James Cameron’s 1989 underwater sci-fi thriller, The Abyss. The crew discusses the film's reputation as one of the toughest productions in cinema history, with the cast and crew enduring grueling conditions in a massive underwater set constructed in a nuclear reactor containment building.
The conversation highlights the groundbreaking visual effects, particularly the "water tentacle" scene, which paved the way for the CGI in Terminator 2. The hosts debate the ethics of the infamous rat breathing scene, where a real rat was submerged in oxygenated fluid, and share trivia about Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio's emotional breakdowns on set. They also touch on the film's multiple cuts (theatrical vs. special edition) and the somewhat controversial ending involving aliens saving humanity. Despite the behind-the-scenes turmoil, the group agrees that The Abyss is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant film that holds up remarkably well today.
Key Highlights
[03:25] Liquid Breathing: Joseph explains the real science behind the fluid breathing used in the film and the controversy surrounding the scene where a real rat was submerged in oxygenated fluorocarbon.
[05:57] Production Hell: A discussion on the "toughest shoot in history," where the cast and crew renamed the film "The Abuse" due to the physical and mental strain of filming underwater for months.
[09:25] Cameron's Near-Death Experience: Joseph shares the story of how director James Cameron almost drowned when his air ran out at the bottom of the tank, forcing him to punch a safety diver to escape.
[15:49] The Drowning Scene: The crew breaks down the emotional intensity of the scene where Lindsey (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) voluntarily drowns to be revived later, praising the performances of the actors.
[44:03] 3D Potential: Jeremy suggests that The Abyss would be perfect for a 3D re-release, given Cameron's expertise with the format in Avatar and Titanic.
[52:00] Uwe Boll Rant: A hilarious tangent where the hosts discuss the terrible video game adaptations of director Uwe Boll, planning a future episode dedicated to roasting his filmography.
View all episodes
By Joseph Gettinger
4.3
33 ratings
In this episode of Sci-Fi Graveyard, Joseph, Jeremy, and Josh dive deep into James Cameron’s 1989 underwater sci-fi thriller, The Abyss. The crew discusses the film's reputation as one of the toughest productions in cinema history, with the cast and crew enduring grueling conditions in a massive underwater set constructed in a nuclear reactor containment building.
The conversation highlights the groundbreaking visual effects, particularly the "water tentacle" scene, which paved the way for the CGI in Terminator 2. The hosts debate the ethics of the infamous rat breathing scene, where a real rat was submerged in oxygenated fluid, and share trivia about Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio's emotional breakdowns on set. They also touch on the film's multiple cuts (theatrical vs. special edition) and the somewhat controversial ending involving aliens saving humanity. Despite the behind-the-scenes turmoil, the group agrees that The Abyss is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant film that holds up remarkably well today.
Key Highlights
[03:25] Liquid Breathing: Joseph explains the real science behind the fluid breathing used in the film and the controversy surrounding the scene where a real rat was submerged in oxygenated fluorocarbon.
[05:57] Production Hell: A discussion on the "toughest shoot in history," where the cast and crew renamed the film "The Abuse" due to the physical and mental strain of filming underwater for months.
[09:25] Cameron's Near-Death Experience: Joseph shares the story of how director James Cameron almost drowned when his air ran out at the bottom of the tank, forcing him to punch a safety diver to escape.
[15:49] The Drowning Scene: The crew breaks down the emotional intensity of the scene where Lindsey (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) voluntarily drowns to be revived later, praising the performances of the actors.
[44:03] 3D Potential: Jeremy suggests that The Abyss would be perfect for a 3D re-release, given Cameron's expertise with the format in Avatar and Titanic.
[52:00] Uwe Boll Rant: A hilarious tangent where the hosts discuss the terrible video game adaptations of director Uwe Boll, planning a future episode dedicated to roasting his filmography.