Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Tilikum | ... | Self (archive footage) | |
![]() |
John Hargrove | ... | Self - Former SeaWorld Trainer |
Samantha Berg | ... | Self - Former SeaWorld Trainer | |
![]() |
Mark Simmons | ... | Self - Former SeaWorld Trainer |
![]() |
Kim Ashdown | ... | Self |
![]() |
Dean Gomersall | ... | Self - Former SeaWorld Trainer |
James Earl Jones | ... | Self (archive footage) | |
![]() |
Shamu | ... | Self (archive footage) |
![]() |
Carol Ray | ... | Self - Former SeaWorld Trainer |
![]() |
John Jett | ... | Self - Fomer SeaWorld Trainer |
![]() |
Dawn Brancheau | ... | Self - SeaWorld Trainer (archive footage) |
![]() |
Jeffrey Ventre | ... | Self - Former SeaWorld Trainer |
![]() |
Thomas Tobin | ... | Self |
Dave Duffus | ... | Self - OSHA Expert Witness, Whale Researcher | |
![]() |
Jim Payne | ... | Self (archive footage) |
Notorious killer whale Tilikum is responsible for the deaths of three individuals, including a top killer whale trainer. Blackfish shows the sometimes devastating consequences of keeping such intelligent and sentient creatures in captivity. Written by Anonymous
This year is already shaping up to be a great one for documentaries and Blackfish is quickly earning the reputation of being the most essential. And it absolutely deserves it. Although its an emotionally charged argument, there's a rational logic behind it. Every time there's found footage of killer whale incidents it's utterly gut-wrenching and you can't help but dread the moments that inevitably shook the world when they could've been prevented. Fortunately, the filmmakers find a different way to present the footage each time and it keeps it from feeling repetitive and builds to feeling more heart breaking at every turn. In its use of talking head interviews with former trainers, it ends up genuinely dramatic without feeling melodramatic as many documentaries can. It oozes with passion for the creatures which helps enforce its argument against their treatment, not just for better protection for trainers, but for corporations like SeaWorld to not turn a blind eye at the clear injustice they've cased. What's the moral cost of the business and entertainment? I certainly won't ever be able to be entertained by animal acts without thinking about Blackfish. Thisis an extremely powerful documentary that's brilliantly structured, tragic and cinematic. More than worth your time.
8/10