Leviathan (1989)

Leviathan (1989), directed by George P. Cosmatos.

Deep sea miners discover an old Russian wreck on the bottom. Turns out they were doing genetic experiments and that never goes well in movies. The vodka our people bring back: you really, really don't want to be drinking that...

In the 1989 underwater creature-feature competition, this pulls ahead of DeepStar Six (1989) but is nowhere near The Abyss (1989). We have estimable talent:

Well known, well loved faces: Peter Weller, Richard Crenna, Amanda Pays, Daniel Stern, Ernie Hudson, Hector Elizondo, Meg Foster. Weller & Pays have good chemistry, always a bonus in good-looking actors.

Again, the Alien (1979) influence dominates here -- disgruntled factory workers in a lonely hostile environment -- with strong additions from The Thing (1982) -- those melted monstrous human forms. More money = more gruesomeness.

Another race against the countdown to implosion. And again, we sadly have the final jump scare, defeat of the monster and happy romantic ending, just as in DeepStar Six (1989).

What are they doing with flame throwers on the ocean floor?

Available on Blu-ray from Shout Factory.

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