"Orca", made two years after the huge success of "Jaws", stars Richard Harris and Charlotte Rampling, two, at first, seemingly opposite characters who develop a, somewhat, 'mutual understanding' between them. After witnessing the tremendous awe of the Killer Whale, Harris's character, a money-grabbing fisherman, resolves to capture this beast and sell it. Rampling's character, a whale lover and researcher, warns him of the consequences, which Harris soon discovers after he does not heed Rampling's warnings.
Directed by Michael Anderson ("Around the World in 80 Days" & "Logan's Run"), "Orca" was classified as a "Jaws cash-in", although the cast and crew do not agree with this opinion. Unlike "Jaws, real whales are often used in this production, and the film, in many occasions, reaching a high point of intensity and anticipation. Despite this, it is a very inconsistent film, beginning with a mysterious scene, only to be eventually followed by long, tedious, whale-watching scenes, halting the suspense once in their grasp. The film is almost believable at parts, due to the in-depth scientific reasoning behind the Whale's motives, but can sometimes be unclear, with awkward cut-ins which don't seem to fit, and the inescapable continuity error of a floppy dorsal fin (which all captive-whales possess).
The acting is fine from all cast members, with most of the film rising to mediocre and enjoyable. The uplifting (not emotionally, but for the film's rating) element of the film, is, as mentioned, its power to throttle suspense by the throat and suffocate until no more can be extracted, helped along by a memorable, spectacular soundtrack by Ennio Morocconi, well known for his work on numerous Western Films (including The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly). Even though the title and synopsis may sound like a "Jaws rip-off", "Orca" deserves credit for the manipulation of the audience to sympathise with the Killer Whale, and the entirely different and morally questioning premise.
Directed by Michael Anderson ("Around the World in 80 Days" & "Logan's Run"), "Orca" was classified as a "Jaws cash-in", although the cast and crew do not agree with this opinion. Unlike "Jaws, real whales are often used in this production, and the film, in many occasions, reaching a high point of intensity and anticipation. Despite this, it is a very inconsistent film, beginning with a mysterious scene, only to be eventually followed by long, tedious, whale-watching scenes, halting the suspense once in their grasp. The film is almost believable at parts, due to the in-depth scientific reasoning behind the Whale's motives, but can sometimes be unclear, with awkward cut-ins which don't seem to fit, and the inescapable continuity error of a floppy dorsal fin (which all captive-whales possess).
The acting is fine from all cast members, with most of the film rising to mediocre and enjoyable. The uplifting (not emotionally, but for the film's rating) element of the film, is, as mentioned, its power to throttle suspense by the throat and suffocate until no more can be extracted, helped along by a memorable, spectacular soundtrack by Ennio Morocconi, well known for his work on numerous Western Films (including The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly). Even though the title and synopsis may sound like a "Jaws rip-off", "Orca" deserves credit for the manipulation of the audience to sympathise with the Killer Whale, and the entirely different and morally questioning premise.