Throw Back Thursday: Blackfish: The Documentary Equivalent Of A Serial-Killer Thriller

It's ironic that a documentary that is centred around an incredible aquatic animal named a KILLER whale can be shocking to witness. You would think that the clue is in the name, but as this exposing insight into the well-know business Sea World reveals our perceptions may not be as informed as we think. It is rare that a documentary enters the realm of thriller flick, and Blackfish makes crosses the boundaries perfectly.

When I first contemplated watching the film, I had of course been made aware of the tragic events that had occurred before. However, prior this knowledge I had always perceived  Killer Whales as beloved mammals who were eager to entertain. But, based around the devastating events surrounding orcas in captivity, this documentary by Gabrielle Coperthwaite is terrifically clever at revealing this is nothing but a carefully crafted façade to hide the devastating truth.

In the title I, surprisingly to many, compared Blackfish to a serial-killer thriller, which is justified by this films sheer ability to grip its audience. Much like iconic suspense thrillers, Blackfish uses a slow sense of gradual revelation that climaxes occasionally in thrilling and tragic bursts. Sadly the film does suffer from this initially, as much seems slow paced exposition more so than interesting story telling. But, the picture to recover as the first act comes to a close.

The story essentially follows the decent into madness of these killer whales, entrapped in what would be a bath tub to us. The orcas who in the wild are use to travelling 100 miles a day, are enclosed, locked away, and the documentary team, through the use of interviews and footage, ensures that the saddening realism of the situation is conveyed with no remorse. This consistent integrity is what makes Blackfish a success.

Another aspect of the movie that deserves recognition is the handling of these tragic real-life events. The deaths of trainers and members of the public are not just displayed for shock value. The director presents these horrific incidents of negligence with respect, and a sense of duty, making the audience feel a sense of justice is being done with the honest portrayal of  these events.

Overall, Blackfish is the definition of thought provoking. When witnessing this documentary we are  made aware of terrible incidents of covering up the truth, and exposed to the disgusting treatment of these misunderstood creatures. This intriguing and exposing documentary, although being slow in some places, succeeds as both entertainment and a emotional motivator to go out and challenge what had been up until this picture a beloved industry leader. In a time where animal abuse, mistreatment and exploitation have been at the foreground of public disgust, it seems completely wrong that whale acts, such as those performed at Sea World, are allowed to continue. And thanks to the people behind Blackfish maybe the days of mistreatment of killer whales are numbered.

My rating: 7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
IMDB: 8.1/10
Did You Know?:  There is no record of an orca doing any harm to a human in the wild.