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Time of India
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Was James Cameron's The Abyss pulled from Disney+? Explaining the scene that got the movie banned in the UK
The Abyss is a 1989 sci-fi horror film directed by James Cameron and released in 1989. The film's premise harkens back to the Cold War era, with an American submarine sinking in the Caribbean. A search-and-rescue team frantically searches for the wreckage in the depth of the ocean before the Soviets find it first, but in the process, they discover new horrors unexpected horrors in the depths. The film had a contentious release in the United Kingdom thanks to a scene that animal rights groups alleged was animal abuse. The scene portrayed a real-life rat being submerged in liquid fluorocarbon. Although the rat reportedly survived, the British Board of Film Classification nonetheless deemed the scene a violation of the 1937 Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act and demanded that all UK prints of the film cut out the scene. However, the controversy has resurfaced with the film's Disney+ release. The Abyss Disney+ release was uncut The Abyss's Disney+ release drew renewed controversy from UK animal rights groups such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) after they discovered that the version of the film released on the streaming service was uncut. Their protests have proven successful, as the film has since been pulled from the UK region of Disney+, meaning that audiences once again have no official way of viewing the controversial banned scene. All prior theatrical and home video releases of The Abyss had complied with the BBFC order and excised the scene. The RSPCA denies engaging in 'cancel culture' The RSPCA, on their social media, accused streaming services of exploiting loopholes that allowed them to get away with including alleged animal abuse that national censor boards were meant to prevent. 1989 film, 'The Abyss' on Disney+, features a scene where a real rat is forcibly plunged into a tank full of chief vet shared concerns with the BBFC at the time, and the scene was cut under laws which prohibit showing animal cruelty on the big screen or in videos. In a statement, an RSPCA spokesperson said that they wouldn't protest the film's return to Disney+, provided the controversial scene was removed, stating: "This isn't about cancel culture – we'd welcome Disney Plus reinstating the film to their platform, just with this troubling scene removed…This was instead about highlighting a loophole that currently exists allowing animal abuse scenes deemed unacceptable elsewhere to be streamed freely and legally into our homes - and protecting the public from having to see this animal abuse content." While it's entirely possible for the BBFC-compliant UK cut of The Abyss to return to Disney+, the banned scene will remain banned for the foreseeable future.
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Disney+ removes blockbuster Hollywood movie after sparking complaints with 'abusive scene which causes real terror'
Disney+ has removed a blockbuster Hollywood movie after sparking complaints with an 'abusive scene which causes real terror'. The Abyss, released in 1989 and directed by James Cameron, is about a top secret mission to recover a nuclear submarine that sunk in mysterious circumstances. The sci-fi thriller is a lesser-known title among the award-winning director's filmography, which also includes Titanic and Avatar. The Truman Show's Ed Harris, Scarface's Mary Mastrantonio and Aliens ' Michael Biehn are among some of the talented cast members. It was nominated for four Academy Awards in 1990: Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Sound, while it won Best Visual Effects. But it has now been removed from Disney+ amid long-running controversy over one scene which sees a real rat submerged and held down in fluorocarbon liquid. The sci-fi thriller is a lesser known title among the award-winning director's filmography, which also includes Titanic and Avatar Rich in oxygen and able to absorb carbon dioxide, fluorocarbon liquids are often used to facilitate the process of so-called liquid breathing. Indeed, the animals used in the shoot reportedly survived - but the scene has long been banned from the cinema and any DVDs or other physical media in the UK. When the film was first set to be screened in the cinema when it came out in the eighties, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) took advice from the RSPCA. The animal cruelty prevention charity made clear its opposition to the scene at the time: 'The forcible immersion of the rat... caused terror.' The BBFC, as the film regulator, therefore put in place the ban on the scene, under the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937 and the Video Recordings Act 1984. This automatically meant the scene could not be shown in terrestrial television reruns either. The Ofcom Broadcasting Code, the regulations all British channels are bound by, states any material banned by the BBFC must also not be shown on TV. But the RSPCA recently spoke out again on the issue, calling the scene an 'infliction of terror', after a completely unedited version of The Abyss was added to Disney+ in April. It pointed out streaming platforms are not bound by these same standards - and the organisation feared 'this provides a loophole to broadcasting animal abuse long considered unacceptable on other medium'. David Bowles, the charity's head of public affairs, has said: 'This isn't about cancel culture. 'We'd welcome Disney+ reinstating the film to their platform, just with this troubling scene removed - as is already the case in cinemas, on TV and on DVD. 'This was instead about highlighting a loophole that currently exists allowing animal abuse scenes deemed unacceptable elsewhere to be streamed freely and legally into our homes - and protecting the public from having to see this animal abuse content. 'The Abyss's controversial rat scene has long concerned the RSPCA and has always been deemed unacceptable by BBFC. 'So, it was hard to fathom why Disney+ decided to broadcast it. 'People deserve to be assured they will not be inadvertently exposed to content which promotes or showcases cruelty to animals. 'And as the way most households consume entertainment changes, regulations must be agile to that and continue to robustly protect animals.' The RSPCA pointed out the Media Act, which came in just over a year ago, enhances Ofcom's regulation of streaming platform. The broadcaster regulator is soon to publish a new set of rules for video-on-demand services, due to be finalised later this year. David said: 'We hope a new code of conduct under the Media Act will help close this loophole. 'But we need to see a degree of consistency between streaming platforms and other forms of more traditional entertainment so people can have confidence when watching films and other shows. 'It doesn't make sense that we have robust safeguards for animal-related content shown in cinemas, on DVDs or on traditional television channels - yet those protections could go out the window when you turn on a major streaming service. 'We can't backtrack now on what society deems is acceptable in terms of how we treat animals.' Dr Charlotte C. Burn, associate professor of behaviour science at the Royal Veterinary College, has previously analysed the scene, for which five different rats were used. She said: 'They defecated in the liquid, which is a common response to intense panic. 'It was clear that the rats experienced terror because they struggled desperately, their extremities turned blue-ish white and they were shown gasping 12 times with their mouths stretched open the widest they could possibly go.' The academic continued: 'To add insult to injury, a rat was then lifted out of the liquid by the tail and dangled for a full six seconds, during which time she exerts great effort as she struggles and her ears are laid flat against her head. 'Being lifted by the tail is highly distressing and painful for rodents.' A BBFC spokesperson has previously said: 'Through our trusted age ratings and content advice, the BBFC works to empower audiences to make informed viewing decisions. 'All our age ratings are informed by our published Classification Guidelines, which are based on wide-scale public consultation. 'We also take into account UK legislation, and we will not classify any material that is in breach of the criminal law. 'The Abyss was originally submitted to the BBFC in 1989, containing a scene in which a character submerges a live rat in liquid. 'We sought expert legal and veterinary advice - from the RSPCA - at the time which confirmed the scene constituted the cruel infliction of terror on an animal, and its exhibition would contravene the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937. 'As a result, the scene was edited from the film in order to be legally exhibited in the UK. 'The scene remains cut from all BBFC-classified versions for cinema and home entertainment release.' It comes after the film, which won director James a Saturn Award for Best Director, was praised by viewers earlier this year, when it also landed on Netflix. The movie's impressive visual effects were produced by filming underwater in tanks inside an disused power plant in South Carolina, USA. Many have taken to Rotten Tomatoes, where the film has an impressive 89 per cent score, to leave their verdicts, raving about it as 'the most intense movie'. One posted: 'One of Cameron's best films. Amazing use of practical effects as well as groundbreaking CGI that still (mostly) holds up today.'; 'Move over Avatar and Aliens - The Abyss is James Cameron's unsung action adventure masterpiece. 'Complete with the archetypal characters typical of a Cameron film, this submersible tale of aliens and the deep blue ocean is an unforgettable thrill ride. 'Packaged with relatable and interesting people, the stakes are always high and the action never stops, as Cameron takes you deep underwater in this claustrophobic epic. This is a blockbuster film and a classic, mark my words!'; 'James Cameron's best film IMO. A work of art that was very difficult to make, but it was worth it. 'The performances, set design, storyline and special effects are beyond amazing. This is top of the line film at the highest level of all time. Perfection!' While another added: 'Back in the nineties, I had the pleasure of experiencing this mind-blowing sci-fi film and even to this day, it continues to captivate me. 'Undoubtedly, it has secured its place as one of my all-time favourites in the genre. They commented on the difference between edited and unedited versions: 'However, let me tell you, the uncut version takes the brilliance to a whole new level.'
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How The Abyss banned scene ended up on Disney+ as streaming service removes film
A classic James Cameron film has been removed from Disney+ over a banned scene of animal cruelty. The Abyss was originally released in 1989 and came under fire for a scene that showed a real rat being dunked into a vat of chemicals, which animal rights campaigners succeeded in having cut from theatrical screenings. But a "loophole" meant that the full version including the rat scene dropped on streaming service Disney+ in April. It has now been removed - here's how it made its way onto the streamer and what happened next. Cameron's 1989 film The Abyss starred Ed Harris in a sci-fi thriller about a diving team sent to recover a nuclear submarine, but stumble across aquatic aliens in the deep. The storyline was inspired by something the Titanic and Avatar filmmaker had read as a teen about humans being able to breathe through liquid, so some scenes include Harris' character appearing to breathe through a liquid-filled helmet. However, while Harris did not actually breathe in the fluid, a real rat used for filming actually was dunked into a vat of fluorocarbon liquid. Although it reportedly survived unharmed, animal rights campaigners were not impressed by the stunt and called for the scene to be removed from the film. Eventually, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) agreed that the scene should be cut as it was in breach of the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937, which bans by law the "cruel infliction of pain or terror on any animal or the cruel goading of any animal to fury" in films. The rat scene was not allowed to be shown in UK cinemas. Despite clear rules that ban cinemas from showing scenes of animal cruelty under the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937, there is what the RSPCA has termed a "loophole" that meant the original film in its uncut form was able to stream on Disney+. At the time of protests about the rat's treatment, the BBFC also used the Video Recordings Act 1984 to stop the scene from being released on Blu-Ray and DVD, or from airing on linear UK TV channels. But how we watch TV and films has moved on in the years since, with many viewers now watching via streaming subscriptions that are sometimes not subject to the same rules. The RSPCA's David Bowles said at the time the film arrived on streaming: "The RSPCA is really concerned that a loophole currently exists allowing animal abuse scenes deemed unacceptable elsewhere to be streamed freely and legally into our homes. "The Abyss' controversial rat scene has long concerned the RSPCA, and has always been deemed unacceptable by BBFC — so it's hard to fathom out why Disney+ has decided to broadcast it. "We need to ensure people are not being exposed to content which promotes or showcases cruelty to animals. As the way millions of households consume entertainment changes, it's vital the legal framework is responsive to that and continues to consistently protect people and animals." Disney+ has now removed The Abyss from streaming, although it's not clear whether the film in its edited version for UK audiences may stream on the service in future. According to GamesRadar, Bowles at the RSPCA said: "This isn't about cancel culture – we'd welcome Disney+ reinstating the film to their platform, just with this troubling scene removed – as is already the case in cinemas, on TV, and on DVD. "This was instead about highlighting a loophole that currently exists allowing animal abuse scenes deemed unacceptable elsewhere to be streamed freely and legally into our homes - and protecting the public from having to see this animal abuse content."
Daily Record
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Disney+ pulls Hollywood film from streaming service over 'troubling' scene
The 1989 Hollywood blockbuster has now been removed from the streaming giant Disney+ has pulled the acclaimed film The Abyss from its offerings, stirring up quite a storm over a contentious sequence. Helmed by iconic director James Cameron, the 1989 release featuring Ed Harris delved deep into a covert mission to salvage a mysteriously sunken nuclear submarine in Earth's most profound depths. Yet upon its original release, uproar ensued due to a particular scene involving an actual rat submerged in fluorocarbon liquid against its will. Although the rodent actors reportedly survived the filming ordeal, the UK has firmly barred the scene from being shown in cinemas or distributed on home video formats. Having sought counsel from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) banned the distressing shot because "the forcible immersion of the rat ... caused terror". This ban stems from the prohibitions of the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937 and Video Recordings Act 1984, leading to the scene's excision from the UK's theatrical, Blu-Ray, and DVD versions. Similarly, television channels in the UK must comply with Ofcom's Broadcasting Code which bars any material that the BBFC has refused classification from being broadcast, effectively proscribing the aforementioned scene from traditional TV as well. Streaming services, however, don't traditionally fall under these legislative restrictions; thus, the controversial scene had been included when The Abyss appeared on Disney+. But after concerns raised by the RSCPA, the streaming giant has decided to withdraw the film from its platform, reports the Liverpool Echo. David Bowles, the RSPCA's Head of Public Affairs, commented: "This isn't about cancel culture - we'd welcome Disney Plus reinstating the film to their platform, just with this troubling scene removed - as is already the case in cinemas, on TV, and on DVD. "This was instead about highlighting a loophole that currently exists allowing animal abuse scenes deemed unacceptable elsewhere to be streamed freely and legally into our homes - and protecting the public from having to see this animal abuse content. "The Abyss' controversial rat scene has long concerned the RSPCA, and has always been deemed unacceptable by BBFC - so it was hard to fathom why Disney+ decided to broadcast it. "People deserve to be assured they will not be inadvertently exposed to content which promotes or showcases cruelty to animals; and as the way most households consume entertainment changes, regulations must be agile to that and continue to robustly protect animals." The RSPCA is optimistic that the forthcoming Media Act will introduce a "degree of consistency" regarding animal abuse content across various platforms. Mr Bowles added: "We hope a new code of conduct under the Media Act will help close this loophole. "Disney Plus seemingly opting to later remove this film highlights how we need a system that introduces a degree of consistency between streaming platforms and other forms of more traditional entertainment, so people can have confidence when watching films and other shows. "It doesn't make sense that we have robust safeguards for animal-related content shown in cinemas, on DVDs or on traditional television channels - yet those protections could go out the window when you turn on a major streaming service. We can't backtrack now on what society deems is acceptable in terms of how we treat animals."
Metro
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Classic 80s sci-fi thriller removed from Disney Plus over 'unacceptable' scene
A 1980s sci-fi movie nominated for four Oscars has been taken down from Disney Plus due to a controversial scene. Released in 1989, The Abyss was written and directed by James Cameron, who went on to direct blockbusters like Titanic and the Avatar franchise. The movie followed a US search and recovery team working with an oil platform crew to save people onboard a submarine after it sinks in the Caribbean. At the same time, they are racing against Soviet vessels to recover the boat, but, deep in the ocean they face an unexpected encounter. The Abyss starred Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Michael Biehn. It was met with mixed reviews, but grossed $90million (£66million) and was nominated for four Oscars, winning Best Visual Effects. In 2023 Cameron announced that a 4K remastered version would return to cinemas for a one-night-only event. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A DVD version was then rolled out in March last year, however a UK release for the 4K restoration was cancelled due to production company Lightstorm Entertainment's refusal to cut a scene involving a rat. The scene in question showed the character, Navy SEAL Ensign Monk (Adam Nelson) submerge a rat in a small tub of breathing fluorocarbon liquid, trying to demonstrate how a human might be able to breathe underwater. The film used five real rats for the scene, with the animal shown in the scene struggling and panicking when it thinks its drowning. However it eventually calms down and starts breathing the liquid, which contains oxygen. This scene was banned in the UK by the British Board of Film Classification on animal cruelty grounds. That ruling meant the scene needed to be cut from any theatrical, home video or terrestrial cuts of the film. However, when the remastered movie version was rolled out on Disney Plus in April, it showed the scene, as streaming services were not bound by the ruling. A few months on, the movie has now completely disappeared and can't be found on the platform. Although Disney Plus is yet to comment on why the film has been pulled entirely, the RSPCA has weighed in on what it believes is a wider issue. In a statement, the RSPCA's head of public affairs David Bowles said: 'The RSPCA is really concerned that a loophole currently exists allowing animal abuse scenes deemed unacceptable elsewhere to be streamed freely and legally into our homes. More Trending 'The Abyss' controversial rat scene has long concerned the RSPCA and has always been deemed unacceptable by BBFC – so it's hard to fathom why Disney Plus decided to broadcast it. 'We need to ensure people are not being exposed to content which promotes or showcases cruelty to animals. As the way millions of households consume entertainment changes, it's vital the legal framework is responsive to that.' Despite the backlash, The Abyss has been called a 'totally gripping, claustrophobic thriller, complete with an interesting crew of characters' on review site Rotten Tomatoes, where it holds a score of 89%. Metro has contacted Disney Plus for comment. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Controversial Snow White remake finally hits Disney+ and fans are split MORE: How to get 4 months of Disney+ for £1.99 a month in time for The Bear's new series MORE: Doctor Who is in peril – but I'm not worried
