The Abyss poster
Puzzle #172 Answer

The Abyss (1989)

The Abyss was the link movie connecting The Terminator and Top Gun: Maverick.

Linked through Michael Biehn and Ed Harris.

AdventureThrillerScience Fiction 1989
The Connection
The Terminator poster
The Terminator (1984)
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Top Gun: Maverick poster

Both Michael Biehn and Ed Harris appeared in The Abyss.

About The Abyss

★ 7.4/10 ⏱ 2h 20m 📅 Aug 9, 1989

"When you get there, you will understand."

A civilian oil rig crew is recruited to conduct a search and rescue effort when a nuclear submarine mysteriously sinks. One diver soon finds himself on a spectacular 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.

Directed by James Cameron
Written by James Cameron

Where to watch

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Top cast

Ed Harris
Ed Harrisas Virgil 'Bud' Brigman
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonioas Lindsey Brigman
Michael Biehn
Michael Biehnas Lieutenant Hiram Coffey
Leo Burmester
Leo Burmesteras Catton ‘Catfish’ De Vries
Todd Graff
Todd Graffas Alan 'Hippy' Carnes
John Bedford Lloyd
John Bedford Lloydas Jammer Willis
Kimberly Scott
Kimberly Scottas Lisa 'One Night' Standing
Chris Elliott
Chris Elliottas Bendix
J.C. Quinn
J.C. Quinnas Arliss 'Sonny' Dawson

Behind the camera

Producers
Gale Anne Hurd, Van Ling
Cinematography
Mikael Salomon
Editing
Howard E. Smith, Joel Goodman, Conrad Buff IV, Steven Quale
Composer
Alan Silvestri
Production Design
Leslie Dilley
Costume Design
Deborah Everton
Casting
Howard Feuer
Visual Effects
Hoyt Yeatman, Steve Johnson, Walt Conti, John Bruno, Dennis Muren
Sound
Blake Leyh

Box office

Budget
$43.0M
Worldwide gross
$90.0M

Awards

At the 62nd Academy Awards the film received four nominations and won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.

Soundtrack

Score by Alan Silvestri

Movie trivia

  • 1

    James Cameron traced the film's seed to a high‑school science lecture by Francis J. Falejczyk—the first human to breathe liquid in experiments by Johannes A. Kylstra—and developed a short story that evolved over years into the screenplay.

  • 2

    Cameron based the character of Lindsey on producer Gale Anne Hurd; he and Hurd were married before production, separated during pre‑production, and divorced in February 1989, two months after principal photography.

  • 3

    About 40% of live‑action principal photography was shot underwater, prompting the production to design experimental gear and a communications system that let the director speak underwater and record actors' dialogue directly to tape.

  • 4

    Two custom tanks were built at an abandoned Cherokee Nuclear Power Plant in Gaffney, South Carolina: a 7.5 million‑gallon main tank (55 ft deep, 209 ft across) and a 2.5 million‑gallon turbine pit; the main tank was the world's largest fresh‑water filtered tank at the time.

  • 5

    The main tank sprang a leak on day one, dumping 150,000 gallons a minute; crews also battled blown pipe fittings, a 200‑foot tear in the tarpaulin, rapid algae blooms and over‑chlorination that burned divers' skin and stripped hair.

  • 6

    The film used a real liquid‑breathing concept on animals (the on‑screen rat actually breathed liquid and survived); Ed Harris did not inhale it but was towed 30 feet submerged in a helmet full of the fluid, enduring fluid up his nose and swollen eyes.

Themes

seaflying saucersubmarineoceandiving suitsecret missioninsanitynuclear missileu.s. navyalien life-formufowarningscuba divingunderwaterscuba

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