A Creepy ‘Killer Whale’ Clip Teases Aquatic Terror

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For years, animal attack movies were a popular choice for audiences. After a period of decline, the genre is making a comeback, and Killer Whale aims to bring something new to the table. The movie is set to release in theaters, digitally, and on demand on January 16th. We’re giving you an exclusive sneak peek: the clip shows an orca clearly expressing its anger over being held in captivity, with a frighteningly close encounter with a staff member near its tank.

Lionsgate describes the movie:

Get ready for a thrilling tale of revenge from the depths of the ocean. When Maddie suffers a terrible loss, her friend Trish takes her on a luxurious getaway to a secluded lagoon. But their peaceful escape turns into a terrifying struggle for survival as a vengeful, dangerous predator seeks payback for years of mistreatment. Starring Virginia Garner and Mel Jarnson, this movie is a heart-stopping ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

A History of Nature Fighting Back


Universal

Movies have often shown nature retaliating against people, and while earlier films like The Birds explored this idea, Steven Spielberg’s Jaws from 1975 truly revolutionized the genre. The film, adapted from Peter Benchley’s novel, was a huge success thanks to its high production quality, strong acting, and unique blend of themes. It’s frequently considered the first true “blockbuster” movie, with incredibly long lines forming at theaters.

The movie’s popularity led to many copycat films, such as Prophecy, Piranha, and Alligator. One particularly noteworthy attempt to replicate its success was the 1977 film Orca, featuring Richard Harris.

In the film, Harris portrays a fisherman who tries to catch a male orca, but unintentionally kills its partner. After bringing the injured female onto his boat, she suffers a miscarriage, which the male orca sees happen. Driven by grief and a desire for revenge, the male orca systematically terrorizes the fisherman’s town, damaging boats, piers, and oil pipelines. The fisherman chases the orca into the ocean, unaware that the animal is deliberately leading him further from safety toward a deadly confrontation.

Even though Orca has some silly moments, it’s actually quite upsetting, considering the events that start the story and how it ends.

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Movies like The Shallows, Crawl, and Beast have brought back the classic theme of animals attacking people, even if those attacks aren’t provoked. With the success of Orca and the popularity of newer animal attack films, Killer Whale has a high bar to meet, and we’re eager to see how it compares.

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2026-01-13 20:02