Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Orca Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov January 31, 2025

Michael Anderson's "Orca: The Killer Whale" (1977) arrives on 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-A "locked".

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 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Orca: The Killer Whale arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release introduces a new 4K restoration of the film, completed at Paramount. The 4K restoration is also available on 4K Blu-ray in this combo pack release.

I viewed the 4K restoration in native 4K and later spent time with the 1080p presentation of it on the Blu-ray. I also compared the 4K restoration and the previous presentation of the film on this Australian Blu-ray release, produced by Umbrella Entertainment in 2017.

The film looks healthier and more vibrant now. While the different density fluctuations introduced by the original cinematography are still easy to see, all visuals have a tighter appearance, boasting superior delineation, clarity, and depth. In areas where natural light is abundant, the upgrade in quality is very obvious. However, darker areas look very good, too. I prefer how several sequences with underwater footage look on the new 1080p presentation of the 4K restoration because shadow nuances are essentially perfect there. 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. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Image stability is excellent. 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 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 viewed Orca: The Killer Whale on 4K Blu-ray and later spent time with the Blu-ray release. The comments below are from our review of the 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack.

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 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• 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 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 Blu-ray release introduces a wonderful 4K makeover of Orca: The Killer Whale, which is also available on 4K Blu-ray in this combo pack. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.