The Breathable Liquid In James Cameron's The Abyss Is Real

Despite seeming like a far-out science fiction gimmick James Cameron created for “The Abyss,” the idea of liquid breathing has been around since the 1960s. Johannes Kylstra began conducting studies with animals in 1962, and after successful trials utilizing oxygenated fluorocarbons, he eventually tested his findings on commercial diver Frank Falejczyk. Despite Falejczyk getting pneumonia afterward, his ability to breathe the oxygenated liquid proved the concept’s validity.

When sharing his experiences during a presentation in about 1970, Falejczyk met James Cameron when Cameron was about 16 years old, and the enlightening interaction inspired the aspiring filmmaker to pen a short story that eventually evolved into “The Abyss.” In 1987, before making the movie, the director also consulted with Kylstra, who gave him the rundown on everything relating to his research, including the formula for the rat scene. “Kylstra told me how to do it with the rat,” the director is quoted as saying on page 94 of the book “James Cameron: Interviews,” published in 2012. “… He told me what to get, how to heat the stuff, how to do the rat.”

As a result, individuals who helped pioneer the innovative science behind the film’s crucial plot point also had a heavy hand in cultivating “The Abyss.” While the idea may have sparked James Cameron’s creativity, there is no denying that liquid breathing has a lot more potential than just adding excitement to the third act of a movie.

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