More Conspiraseas
Seaspiracy is the latest hard-hitting documentary on Netflix, exposing the corruption and shocking truth lying under our oceans. If you’ve finished this one, you may be looking for more movies on the same topic. Well, fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top picks for alternate viewing. So without further ado, we present 10 movies to check out when you’ve finished watching Seaspiracy.
Black Fish
Black Fish made quite the splash when it dropped on our screens back in 2013. Exposing the shocking truth behind Seaworld, this movie makes for some very uncomfortable viewing. Where Black Fish excels is unveiling the truth about a company that otherwise seems innocent on the surface. When the truth is unveiled it brings with it a cold chill up your spine as you’re forced to watch in horror what takes place. This documentary is labeled as a psychological thriller and for large stretches of the run-time, that’s exactly how this one plays out. If you haven’t watched it yet, Black Fish should definitely be on your radar.
Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret
Cowspiracy is a shocking documentary exposing the effect modern farming is having on global warming. Through the eyes of an aspiring environmentalist, this movie addresses the single, most destructive force facing the planet and does so with an equal amount of hard-hitting facts and humour. Kip Andersen directs and writes this film, daringly seeking to find a real solution to the pressing environmental issues presented. The interviews are really well-done and the facts are every bit as hard-hitting as you’d expect.
Food Inc.
Food Inc. explores the frightening truth behind cheap, manufactured food. Documentary filmmaker Robert Kenner is in the driving seat here, and he examines how mammoth corporations have taken over all aspects of the food chain in the United States. From farms through to supermarkets and chain restaurants, the movie combines surprising facts and sobering home truths with telling interviews. Brace yourself with this one though, there’s some pretty shocking and unsettling footage inside large-scale animal processing plants here.
The Social Dilemma
If there’s one horror movie you watch this year, make sure it’s The Social Dilemma. This frightening and disturbing look at social media addiction serves as a chilling cautionary tale. While it may not have many similarities to Seaspiracy, in terms of shock-value and the pull of big companies, this one definitely shares the same space. With a blend of dramatized segments and tech experts (notably former employees of these companies) warning about their own creations, this documentary is compulsory viewing. What’s particularly scary though is just how much pull these big companies have. The fact that our democracy is now under threat thanks to social media brings the conversation back to the very real possibility of what’s in our future. Social Dilemma is a must-watch documentary.
Free Willy
The fact that Free Willy hits harder in 2021 than it perhaps did back in the 90’s is telling unto itself. Thanks to movies like Black Fish, more has been uncovered about these orca whales, making this family picture a pretty sobering watch. However, Free Willy is one of the more uplifting titles on this list and boasts a wonderfully iconic ending. The story itself revolves around a young orca whale called Willy separated from his parents and forced into a marina. At the same time, a street kid called Jesse is caught vandalizing that very same marina. Jesse’s social worker forces him to clean up the mess, leading to an unlikely friendship blossoming between Willy and Jesse. What follows is an eventual plan to free willy and bring him back to the open ocean. Despite some tough scenes early on, the ending to this makes it well worth sticking with and checking out.
Chasing Coral
Coral reefs around the world are vanishing at an unprecedented rate. In a bid to capture this, Chasing Coral is a 2017 documentary film about the damaging effect humanity is having on our oceans. It’s a wake-up call about the problems our aquatic neighbours are facing and the danger caused by the coral reefs bleaching. Interestingly, this documentary also dives into a lot of educational material including how coral is formed along with the root cause of oceans starting to warm. It really is an essential watch and a compelling documentary in its own right.
The Cove
The Cove is another must-watch documentary and a very difficult one to sit through. Using state-of-the-art equipment, a group of activists – led by dolphin trainer Ric O’Barry – infiltrate a cove near Taijii, Japan. Whilst there, they expose shocking animal abuse and a serious threat to human health. Beautifully shot and incredibly sobering, The Cove is a very hard hitting picture. However, this movie also exposes a larger level of corruption which ripples through Japan and into the wider world. No spoilers here of course, but this is another very good film.
The Ivory Game
While not directly linked to marine life, The Ivory Game’s focus on the lucrative ivory trade is every bit as shocking. Set deep in the heart of Africa, this Netflix documentary follows a group of wildlife activists as they take on poachers in an effort to try and end this illegal trade. It’s an uphill battle of course, and one that brings some humble home truths about humanity and what we’re doing to the wildlife we share a planet with. From the local killers through to the wealthy foreign buyers, the entire infrastructure of this industry is exposed. This nature documentary is an unforgettable and essential watch.
Long Gone Wild
Dubbed by some as the spiritual successor to Black Fish, Lone Gone Wild returns to the sea to showcase more footage of orca whales being hunted. This time though we’re off to Eastern Russia where we see these magnificent creatures hunted for sale and thrown into the marine theme park industry in China. Filmmaker Neal interviews authors, scientists, former trainers, and researchers on the topic, who all lend their voices to this documentary. While its not as hard-hitting as Black Fish, it’s still another well-written aquatic-based documentary.
Earthlings
Earthlings is a very difficult movie to watch. Starring Joaquim Phoenix, Earthlings uses hidden cameras and never-before-seen footage to chronicle the day-to-day practices of the largest industries in the world. From the fur trade through to zoos and the inevitable food trade, this movie looks at the way we treat animals and aims to shock and educate in equal measure. There’s some very difficult scenes in this documentary so do be aware of that before diving in. However, Earthlings is an absolute must-watch and a shocking display of abuse. As Phoenix himself says during the documentary: “If slaughterhouses had glass walls, we would all be vegetarians.” So there we have it, our 10 Movie & documentary picks to keep you busy after watching Seaspiracy on Netflix. What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
