FilmsThe AbyssLike this

Films like The Abyss.

The Abyss (1989) reads as Neutral, kinetic, measured sci-fi / adventure, inventive in texture. Ambivalent, mid-stakes, measured. Every film below is ranked by distance across the same twelve hand-scored axes — with what it keeps, and where it walks away. Not a genre dump.

Patlabor: The Movie (1989) poster
1. Patlabor: The Movie1989

Keeps the patient, unhurried pace and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Excalibur (1981) (1981) poster
2. Excalibur1981

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Dagger of Kamui (1985) poster
3. The Dagger of Kamui1985

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the unmistakable directorial hand; trades toward a relentless forward drive.

Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) poster
4. Bram Stoker's Dracula1992

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the unmistakable directorial hand; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Macross Plus Movie Edition (1995) poster
5. Macross Plus Movie Edition1995

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the unmistakable directorial hand; trades toward a relentless forward drive.

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) poster
6. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome1985

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the unmistakable directorial hand; trades toward a relentless forward drive.

Perils of the Sentimental Swordsman (1982) poster
7. Perils of the Sentimental Swordsman1982

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the unmistakable directorial hand; trades toward a relentless forward drive.

They Live (1988) poster
8. They Live1988

Keeps the unmistakable directorial hand; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Brainstorm (1983) poster
9. Brainstorm1983

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Batman (1989) poster
10. Batman1989

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the unmistakable directorial hand; trades toward a relentless forward drive.

Born in Flames (1983) poster
11. Born in Flames1983

Keeps the patient, unhurried pace and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

The Brave Archer Part III (1981) poster
12. The Brave Archer Part III1981

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a relentless forward drive.

These are The Abyss’s neighbours — where are yours?

Rate five posters and the same twelve axes read you — then tonight’s pick comes from your own centre of taste.

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