Seeking out the

5000 greatest films

in a century of cinema

Blackfish

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Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Produced by Manuel Oteyza
Written by Gabriela Cowperthwaite and Eli B. Despres
With: Kim Ashdown, Ken Balcomb, Samantha Berg, Dave Duffus, Howard Garrett, Dean Gomersall, John Hargrove, Carol Ray, Jeffrey Ventre, and Tilikum
Cinematography: Jonathan Ingalls and Chris Towey
Editing: Gabriela Cowperthwaite and Eli B. Despres
Music: Jeff Beal
Runtime: 83 min
Release Date: 26 July 2013
Aspect Ratio: 1.85 : 1
Color: Color
Blackfish is fascinating documentary that works as both animal-rights activism, and when-animals-attack voyeurism. By primarily following the story of a one of the few killer whales to have actually killed a human being, the film succeeds in making audiences think about the ethics and morality of keeping any wild animals in captivity and forcing them to entertain us. Told mainly from the perspective of former Sea World trainers and marine biologists, some may consider this documentary to be too one-sided. However, as the film unfolds it becomes all too clear that in any movie of this kind the one perspective you never gets to hear from is that of the animals concerned.