James Cameron’s ‘The Abyss’ to be re-released in 4K
Over three decades since its initial run in the theatre, James Cameron’s The Abyss is set to return to the cinema in 4K resolution.
The 1989 thriller follows the story of Ed Harris’s Virgil ‘Bud’ Brigman as the foreman on the ship Deep Coast. As the vessel dives into the deepest depths of the ocean, the crew come across an aquatic species that may be extraterrestrials.
Upon release, the movie was celebrated for the use of cutting-edge technology, winning an Academy Award for ‘Best Visual Effects’. Cameron would later use similar innovative effects when working on his sequel to Terminator and continues to use them in his Avatar franchise.
Discussing the reasoning for the re-release, Cameron stated that he wanted to bring new technological advancements to the effects that were used in the initial version of the film. The director explained in a statement, “If you haven’t seen the film before, this is the way to experience it. And if you have, you’ll be seeing the film I actually set out to make.”
Outside of the breathtaking effects, the film would also become near-fatal for Cameron. During one of the submerged scenes, Cameron’s vessel began to run out of air, causing him to swim as fast as he could back up to the surface before he drowned.
However, his experience making the film didn’t stop Cameron from working on more water-themed projects in the future. When not busy working on making blockbuster movies, the director has had a fascination with the sea, eventually taking time off in 2012 to pilot the vessel Deepsea Challenger, working to get to the deepest point in the world, The Challenger Deep.
The Abyss is set to return to theatres on December 6th, 2023.
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