Killer Whale (2026): It Doesn’t Have to Be Like This

A Sad Girl and a Killer Whale

Susan Gee Oliver (a self-proclaimed shark animal attack movie connoisseur) reviews Jo-Anne Brechin’s aquatic horror movie, Killer Whale.

To satisfy my first rule for an animal attack movie, there must be a kill before the opening credits. Seeing the animal isn’t necessary, but you need a taste of blood before moving on to character or plot development. To my early delight, Killer Whale checked off this requirement with a scene involving a sad momma whale killing her trainer. It’s not the most plausible or exciting kill, but acceptable. But just like a whale’s fin droops in captivity, this is where the movie goes limp. It becomes a movie not about a sad whale, but about a sad girl, better served on the Lifestyle Channel.

Similar to how the Car Seat Headrest’s song “Killer Whales” is about drunk driving, the movie “Killer Whale” isn’t really about a whale named Ceto.

Was this screenplay a victim of an AI-debacle? Prompt: Create an eco-horror screenplay… like Orca. Add a vague message about animals in captivity. Include bikini-wearing babes, but make them educated or musically talented. Add a tragic love story that leads to a twist for the third act. We need a few kills… but have a limited budget for blood, effects, or filming locations. 

It’s not all bleak. The lead actors, Virginia Gardner and Trish Stevens are serviceable and sometimes convincing. And I learned a handy survival tip—bring a plastic bag with you to avoid dehydration!  There’s a lot of loose logic, bad effects, and cheesy backstory. Generally a formula for a good time. However, this one is just too melodramatic for my taste. We want likeable characters, but we don’t need complicated stories with cello-playing waitresses, dead boyfriends, and best friend drama.

Animal attack movies don’t have to be this way. Give me more kills, more fun, and less talking on a rock. Check it out if you need some mindless entertainment after an edible. I give this 2 fins out of 5.   

Released in January 2026, you can find Killer Whale streaming on various platforms like Amazon Prime.