Review of The Abyss (1989) by Ryan H — 04 Aug 2012

This review refers to the director's cut.

I going to go ahead and disagree with conventional wisdom and say that this is probably Cameron's best film. Even on my tiny 16" TV I found this incredibly immersive and engaging. Cameron is a master of setting and pace, and The Abyss is relentless in developing a claustrophobic atmosphere that had me on the edge of my seat (ie IKEA couch) for the entire running length.

Everyone complains about the stupid ending but honestly I found it weirdly appropriate. Sure, it's a huge dues ex machina but it added an interesting thematic dimension to the movie and is a pretty ballsy way to end a Holkywood blockbuster. In my opinion the film was good enough to earn my suspension of disbelief for 20 minutes.