Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Orca 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov January 31, 2025

Michael Anderson's "Orca: The Killer Whale" (1977) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary by critics Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson; archival audio commentary by critic Lee Gambin; and vintage trailer. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

It is not difficult to see why so many people have compared Michael Anderson’s Orca: The Killer Whale to Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, which was released two years earlier, but the logic behind the comparison is incredibly flawed. It is the same type of poor logic a person could use to conclude that there is hardly any difference between driving a brand new Mercedes and a brand new Jaguar because both have four tires and plenty of the same high-end accessories. Anyone who understands automobiles will immediately point out the obvious. Despite being luxury automobiles from the same price bracket, Mercedes and Jaguar have unique personalities and offer vastly different driving experiences. The situation with Orca: The Killer Whale and Jaws is practically the same. They are similar because both tell stories about powerful sea creatures, but have unique identities and thrill in profoundly different ways.

Richard Harris is Captain Nolan, a seasoned sea hunter, who is on a mission to capture a giant whale that will be used for important research. Of course, upon delivery, he will also be paid a hefty sum that will finally allow him to retire in style. After days of scouting an area where whales love to play, Nolan finally spots his prey and fires off his harpoon. But he hits and kills a pregnant whale, whose mate then goes berserk and threatens to destroy an entire fishing community. (It is best not to reveal precisely how the whale does it, as the danger and later the destruction are major elements of the narrative). The whale’s primary target remains Nolan, the killer of its best friend, so it is only a matter of time before they clash in a deadly duel.

It may seem like Orca: The Killer Whale is structured a lot like Jaws, but this film genuinely wants to be educational and inspire its audience to try to understand why the giant sea creature can become ‘deadly’. It is precisely why Charlotte Rampling’s character and her descriptions and observations are given plenty of time -- they provide a scientific justification for all the bloody action that comes in the second half. In Jaws, the action is almost exclusively utilized to build up a tense atmosphere intended to have an instant effect on the audience. In other words, the audience is not encouraged to analyze and ponder the two sides of the conflict, but experience it as it evolves.

How successful Orca: The Killer Whale is in its mission will be determined by the expectations with which it is approached. Folks expecting an intense but straightforward ecological action thriller mimicking Jaws will likely be underwhelmed, because even though it is not downplayed here, the action has a completely different function. On the other hand, Orca: The Killer Whale will surely resonate well with folks who appreciate a greater dose of authenticity and a more rational depiction of the ‘dangerous killers’ that supposedly hide in deep waters.

The most spectacular visuals were shot on location in Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada. Several of them feature terrific underwater footage as well.

The memorable soundtrack was composed by the legendary Italian maestro Ennio Morricone (Once Upon a Time in America, Black Angel).

Orca 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Kino Lorber's release of Orca: The Killer Whale is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray is Region-A "locked".

Please note that some of the screencaptures included with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc.

Screencaptures #1-27 are from the Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #31-39 are from the 4K Blu-ray.

The combo pack introduces a new 4K makeover of Orca: The Killer Whale, sourced from the original camera negative and completed at Paramount. In native 4K, the 4K makeover can be viewed with Dolby Vison and HDR grades. I chose to view it with Dolby Vision.

I have only one other release of Orca: The Killer Whale in my library. It is this Australian Blu-ray release, which Umbrella Entertainment produced in 2017. I used it to do several comparisons.

In native 4K, all visuals have a strong and very attractive organic appearance. However, I have to immediately mention that in several areas, but most notably during the final act, there are noticeable density fluctuations that impact delineation, clarity, and depth. These fluctuations are not introduced by digital anomalies. They are part of the original cinematography. Also, while the dynamic range of the visuals is excellent, in a few spots, it can appear inconsistent as well. However, all inconsistencies are introduced by unique lighting conditions. In other words, they are inherited as well. The rest looks mighty impressive. A lot of the sea footage in particular is quite striking. Color reproduction and balance are convincing. In several key areas, there are small but effective adjustments that strengthen blues, greens, and grays, plus a small range of supporting nuances. As a result, the entire film has a lusher and more natural appearance now. This improvement and the overall superior dynamic range of the visuals easily elevate the new 4K makeover well above the previous presentation of the film, which was quite good. Image stability is excellent. I compared several areas with underwater footage and darker material boasting diverse shadow nuances to see if there is a noticeable difference between the native 4K presentation and the 1080p presentation from the new Blu-ray release. The Dolby Vision grade is very good. I like how some of the panoramic footage looks in native 4K better. For darker areas, and especially underwater footage, I lean toward the 1080p presentation as the slightly more convincing one, but this is only a personal preference. Finally, I noticed a few tiny blemishes, but there are no large debris, cuts, marks, or other similar age-related imperfections to report. My score is 4.75/5.00.

Orca 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

I started viewing the film with the 2.0 track, but quickly switched to the 5.1 track. After a while, I started switching the two to see how effective the 5.1 track might be in some of the more active areas. The 5.1 track quite easily opens up different areas of the film, so if you appreciate the more active sound designs of contemporary films, go straight for it. However, the Mono track is very solid. In fact, I wonder if some new remastering work was done on it because its fullness and thickness are outstanding. On the older Australian release I have, I do not recall the Mono track having the same consistency. Either way, on this release, you have two very solid audio options.

Orca 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - this archival audio commentary was recorded by critic Lee Gambin. It offers plenty of factual information about the evolution of ecological thrillers, the conception of Orca: The Killer Whale, and the film's structure and style. Also, there are some quite good observations about the horror genre's constant desire to reinvent itself over the years.

• Commentary Two - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson. The commentators explain why Orca: The Killer Whale was a perfect project for the great Italian producer Dino De Laurentiis to tackle (whom they rightfully compare to American film producer Irwin Allen), why it is correct to point out that it was influenced by Jaws but it is not a copycat project, and why the film is effective. Also, there is plenty of interesting information about the stars of Orca: The Killer Whale, and especially Richard Harris, whose quality performance is arguably the biggest reason the film still looks surprisingly good today.

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - this archival audio commentary was recorded by critic Lee Gambin. It offers plenty of factual information about the evolution of ecological thrillers, the conception of Orca: The Killer Whale, and the film's structure and style. Also, there are some quite good observations about the horror genre's constant desire to reinvent itself over the years.

• Commentary Two - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson. The commentators explain why Orca: The Killer Whale was a perfect project for the great Italian producer Dino De Laurentiis to tackle (whom they rightfully compare to American film producer Irwin Allen), why it is correct to point out that it was influenced by Jaws but it is not a copycat project, and why the film is effective. Also, there is plenty of interesting information about the stars of Orca: The Killer Whale, and especially Richard Harris, whose quality performance is arguably the biggest reason the film still looks surprisingly good today.

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage trailer for Orca: The Killer Whale. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

Orca 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

When the great Italian producer Dino De Laurentiis greenlighted Orca: The Killer Whale, what he had in mind was not a shameless copycat. Yes, it is true that Orca: The Killer Whale was inspired by Jaws, but this is an irrelevant detail. Why? Because when the Italians greenlighted copycats -- and De Laurentiis' name is attached to quite a few -- they did them quickly and cheaply, without relying on the services of famous actors and directors. Orca: The Killer Whale is a rather ambitious and properly shot ecological thriller that is a legitimate competitor of supposedly serious films like The Day of the Dolphin. It gets its point across very well, plus Richard Harris is great as the aging sea hunter Captain Nolan. Kino Lorber's combo pack introduces a wonderful 4K makeover of Orca: The Killer Whale, which is available on a separate Blu-ray release as well. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.