BLACKFISH

BLACKFISH Review

By Darin Skaggs

     What is the main purpose of a documentary?  Is it to explore a day in the life of an interesting figure?  Is it to explore inspirational or depressing themes?  Is it to get the word out on tragic events happening right now?  These are probably all right answers and if all of these are equated in the film that is what makes a great documentary. Blackfish only attempts to be one of those aspects and that is getting the word out on SeaWorld not admitting that keeping Killer Whales in captivity is making them hostile.

     Blackfish makes the case that SeaWorld should not keep their Killer Whales in the small pools because it makes them go crazy and attack trainers.  To prove to us that this is true they show us real footage of several attacks from these Killer Whales including a whale holding a man’s foot and dragging him down to the pool floor, a man being crushed by two whales and several accounts of the whales pushing around the trainers.  It also takes interviews from former employees telling tales of disturbing moments while in the park.  No one currently in SeaWorld is interviewed to give their side of the story because it is claimed that they refused to be interviewed.

     A lot of the footage is hard to watch.  You’ll most likely spend a lot of those scenes blocking your eyes from seeing them like it is some sort of horror film and rightfully so.  It makes a good case for SeaWorld being monsters and you will probably come out of the film not ever wanting to go there again.  The film works completely on what it is trying to do.  That is all though; the film is not or does not try to be anything else.  It is just a persuasive documentary.  Other great documentaries are about so much more like the recent Searching For Sugar Man explores the idea of changing a life with anything you do, even if you do not know about it.  This film only wants you to boycott SeaWorld.

     At other times the documentary tries too hard to make you hate the monsters at SeaWorld.  When the man gets crushed, it is disturbing to watch but sort of looks like an accident.  He is riding a whale, then out of nowhere another whale jumps up and lands on the other one.  This could be on purpose or it could just be a crazy accident.  Other moments like a homeless guy sneaking in to the park and dying are treated like it is SeaWorld’s fault but if a man sneaks into any wild animal cage they will probably be killed.  The film is so desperate to convince us that the whales should be free that it goes overboard at times even though there is plenty of information to persuade us to think that way.  The documentary is harrowing and makes you feel sad for these animals.