The new horror film Killer Whale attempts to shift the aquatic terror from sharks to orcas, but unfortunately, the whale antagonist Ceto fails to make a lasting impression. While it is refreshing to see a different marine predator take center stage, the movie never reaches the heights of classics like Jaws nor the campy fun of Deep Blue Sea. Instead, it often feels like a relationship drama between two best friends stranded on a rock in bikinis, hoping not to become a meal.
Plot Overview
Maddie (Virginia Gardner) is a waitress and cellist with big dreams, until a robbery leaves her hearing impaired and costs her boyfriend Chad (Isaac Crawley). A year later, she is on a restorative vacation with her college friend Trish (Mel Jarnson), a beautiful social media influencer studying gene editing for her PhD. Trish plans a visit to see Ceto, a captive killer whale, at a waterpark. After meeting Josh (Mitchell Hope) and getting drunk, the trio decides to break into the park to say hello.
The Peril Unfolds
Things go awry, and they end up stranded on a rock in the ocean with an angry orca between them and safety. The film offers some amusing lines, such as “Maddie, don’t, that’s Chad’s cremation stone box,” and sparks curiosity about how the pair will survive. However, the dramatic weight is insufficient to make the audience truly care about their fate.
Horror Elements and Cast Limitations
On the horror front, the film faces significant challenges. The extremely limited number of characters means only a few kills are possible, so the character drama must sustain interest between set pieces—a task it struggles with. There are a couple of decent plot twists and reveals, but they are not enough to prevent viewers from checking out until the next whale encounter.
Killer Whale is available on digital platforms from 18 May.
