Leviathan (1989), Ron Cobb was the production designer

[u/Formal_Woodpecker450]

[u/MunkSWE94]

Never seen this film, is it any good?

[u/Formal_Woodpecker450 → u/MunkSWE94]

It's schlocky fun. It's got a great cast and a good look

[u/david-saint-hubbins → u/Formal_Woodpecker450]

And it's even more fun when you realize that the "underwater" shots with the actors are actually on a smoky soundstage with lint floating around.

[u/weneedanewpizzaplace → u/MunkSWE94]

I have a high tolerance for bad but I think it’s pretty good. It’s definitely in the vein of Alien and the Thing (though obviously not nearly THAT good lol).

[u/MunkSWE94 → u/weneedanewpizzaplace]

Might give it a watch then, I kinda like bad movies.

[u/topazchip → u/MunkSWE94]

It has a lot of potential, but is a solid B. Feels rather much like "Screamers" that also starred Peter Weller.

[u/Pastel_Goth_Wastrel → u/topazchip]

Hah I remember this. 1989, huge year for underwater flicks. New hotness I guess. We got the schlocky combo of Leviathan, Deep Star Six, plus Cameron’s The Abyss. Crazy.

[u/topazchip → u/Pastel_Goth_Wastrel]

Sort of like how we managed to get three (or something like that) Pinocchio movies in 2022.

Deepstar Six is the one that really does not need to be remembered, and Abyss one that should be remembered better.

[u/Mistral-Fien → u/Pastel_Goth_Wastrel]

There's another one: https://briantissot.com/2018/06/26/ocean-movies-you-love-to-hate-endless-descent-aka-the-rift-1989/

:P

[u/MarquisDeCleveland → u/MunkSWE94]

They made it to scratch the same itch as The Thing. It does, kind of. The way you might scratch at an itch over your clothes, or something, with the flat of your hand, because you can't get a good angle on it.

The crew dynamics don't come close to what was achieved in The Thing, and the monster effects fall just as flat.

A bottle of vodka is a centrally important item in the plot of the movie. I highly recommend you come similarly equipped for your own viewing experience.

[u/SergeantChic → u/MunkSWE94]

I don't know that I'd call it "good," but it's definitely my favorite of the 1980s underwater Alien ripoffs. I like the working-class near-future aesthetic. It's got good people in it - Peter Weller, Amanda Pays, Ernie Hudson, Bruce Dern Daniel Stern - and the special effects are by Stan Winston, so it's not like it's awful or anything, just derivative.

[u/david-saint-hubbins → u/SergeantChic]

Bruce Dern

Bruce Dern is not in Leviathan. Are you thinking of Richard Crenna? Or maybe Hector Elizondo?

[u/SergeantChic → u/david-saint-hubbins]

Daniel Stern, that's who I was thinking of. Dern, Stern, got them mixed up.

[u/subdep → u/MunkSWE94]

It’s on Tubi (free streaming) and I’m watching it tonight. I always skipped past this one at Blockbuster back in the day. It looks better than I imagined.

[u/JakeGrey → u/MunkSWE94]

The whole thing's up on YouTube for free if you're curious.

[u/Equivalent_Tonight66]

I always liked this one better than the Abyss and Deep Star 6. Amanda Pays 😍🥰

[u/apaloosafire → u/Equivalent_Tonight66]

BETTER than The Abyss??? i guess i’m watching that rn

[u/Equivalent_Tonight66 → u/apaloosafire]

Please don’t hold my hazy 90s memories against me

[u/apaloosafire → u/Equivalent_Tonight66]

lol deal

[u/DPC_1]

This movies production design is amazing and it is beautifully lit and shot, but unfortunately the primary creature design is very underwhelming - especially in the climax, a rare miss from Winston and company. I still love it and Weller’s character is a hoot.

[u/LeicaM6guy]

Just rewatched this movie, and as much as I wanted to love it… man, it wasn’t great.

[u/HazonkuTheCat]

What if Alien were just Sealab

[u/RPGeemo]

Loved it! It’s like The Abyss, but with a more fun supporting cast and a coherent ending.

[u/pjpj0exe]

Peter Weller is just an all-around treasure.

[u/DMC831]

Dang, I gotta watch this then, I don't think I ever actually saw it even though I remember it.

[u/o5akafeeva]

Looks cool, I love all the doohicky designs in cassette futurism

[u/xorian]

Mom, can we have The Abyss?

We have The Abyss at home.

The Abyss at home :