For the rest of us, The Abyss plays very much like a by-the-numbers disaster film in which a select few are chosen to be the characters we care about the most as the world around them is literally swallowed by the ground.

For those who prefer their disaster flicks without so much bombast, then this abyss is worth peeking into.

The application of a little verisimilitude helps a disaster flick like The Abyss go down a little bit easier.

It’s got an interesting premise, a great cast, and outstanding special effects. However, the plot is predictable, and whatever spark it had in the beginning turns into a snooze fest of a final act.