The Americans have lost a nuclear submarine, and, fearing the Russians are being naughty communists, the US Navy enlists a civilian team of roughneck divers to rescue it from the edge of the abyss. A Navy SEAL team, led by Michael Biehn, joins in to add some "whacking stick". Topside, the weather gets nasty, and in the depths, strange UFO-ish things keep happening, making everyone nervous... are the aliens evil, or does the greater evil lie in the hearts of men?

James Cameron creates a luscious and textured environment, as usual, and peppers it with strong characters behaving believably, and I did enjoy the chemistry between Virgil (Harris) and his estranged wife Lindsay (Mastrantonio). My only complaint is that it is too damned long and occasionally ponderous (especially the Directors Cut, which moralises), so be sure to visit the bathroom right before it starts.This film is a must-see for those with fears of confined spaces or drowning.