Review of Blackfish (2013) by Sarah C — 09 Feb 2017

Blackish Movie Review.

A human can abuse an animal in many ways but people just find new and worse ways to do it and get away with it. Sadly too many people don't even know animal abuse happens everyday. It might even be their neighbor or even someone close to them and yet nobody knows. "Blackfish" is a 2013 documentary film, directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite it's about showing the true reality behind seaworld.

Ms.Cowperthwaite becomes one of the first to strike against seaworld on the way the orca whales were treated, specifically a male orca named Tilikum. "Blackfish" not only shows struggles a killer whale went through at Seaworld but the way the owners looked at them as only money makers ad not an animal with feelings.

"Blackfish" (forgive me for any spoilers)explains how seaworld located in Orlando,Florida tells ways trainers treated orcas, the struggles they went through, all the suffering they had to go through that no animal should have to ever endure but sadly it happens all over the world and people don't even care. Seaworld became such a famous tourist attraction because of the whale it brung people from all around the world. All of that because of a male orca named Tilikum that was caught from the wild as a baby, not only was he taken from his mother but also forced to live in a concrete pool for most of his life. Because of that it caused depression, loneliness and the cause for Tilikum's fin to bend over. But the owners only thought about money. Since Tilikum is a male orca he becomes Seaworld's most prised possession all because of one thing, his semen he was one of the only male orca whales in captivity that could reproduce.

Since he was taken from his mother at such a young age it caused Tilikum to be an aggressive, uncontrollable whale at times. When humans would take Tilikum's semen he would pass his aggressiveness and anger to his offspring. Humans where the cause of the actions that soon unfolded. The movie explains the environment the whales lived in, how they were treated,whales from completely different oceans were put in the same container and it would cause anger between them and bullying, some would bleed during live shows because of injuries. At times they were forced to be put in different pools. The movie describes Seaworld was a place of horror for the whales. "Blackish" also explains all the accidents, most happened when Seaworld was closed or during training sessions. The accidents that happened at Seaworld not even the trainers new about. The owners would keep every accident very secretive to not cause comoshion. Tilikum was responsible for 3 deaths but in February 24, 2010 it would be the first person killed at a live show it would cause so much commotion on social media and the news seaworld would be forced to close its doors for good. A trainer during a live event was making Tilikum do his normal tricks due to his previous accidents trainers typically didn't get in the water with him but the trainer had got to close to the edge of the pool and Tilikum pulled her by her hair into the water then killing her by amputating her arm of. This tragic accident led to the closer of Seaworld.

I believe that the movie was really was really good with letting people know the horrifying truth behind all the tricks and shows the whales were forced to do. I knew animal cruelty was a problem but I never realised sea world was such a prime example of animal cruelty. Animal cruelty is a much bigger problem than we know; it happens all around us and most of us don't even know. Therefore "Blackish"not only tells you about the cruelty that happened at Seaworld but how so many people went to watch there shows not thinking if the animal was happy doing what it was doing.

Despite the movie being more of a depressing movie I do record you to watch because it shows if people show animal cruelty is a problem we all can try together to make a difference.