The Whale: A Captivating Tragedy

Through the last few months, there have been a handful of movies that are gaining significant traction online, whether it’s Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) or Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania (2023). But one has been shining above the rest: an indie film titled The Whale (2022). 

This film comes from the twisted but beautiful minds of director David Aronofsky and writer Samuel D. Hunter. According to several sources, this unlikely duo came together to adapt a play created by Hunter after Aronofsky saw the play in 2012 and instantly wanted to adapt it to the big screen. Of course, these two wouldn’t know it yet, but they would take the next ten years to craft and perfect this powerful script.

This adaptation is a passion product by both men, who have spent more time reinforcing and refining their script to nail their point on the head, going through dozens of rewrites before finalizing. What makes this even better is that this film wasn’t supposed to have a theatrical release—it was solely meant for film festivals until the film was leaked online, allowing the unfiltered masses to see this work, resulting in a theatrical release. 

This shows the intent of making this film not to have it been a big blockbuster release, but something meant for a specific, thoughtful audience; however, though the original intent has changed, this has worked out for the best, and most people who see this movie have nothing but praise to give. 

The storyline of The Whale (2022) follows a struggling, morbidly overweight, solitary English professor, Charlie, trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter before his time runs out. Without giving more of the plot away, this storyline is expanded very engagingly, acting as a commentary on self-acceptance and a critique of organizations like the Catholic Church. It’s a shocking overlap upon first watch, but as the storyline continues, each piece falls into place, and this inclusion proves to be essential to the plot. Every part of this movie shows clear intent; there are no aspects of this film that pull you out of the story being told, nor does anything feel out of place or abnormal—it all works exquisitely! 

The main reason why this movie works so well is because of the acting of Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Samantha Morton, and Ty Simpkins, all of whom give their all in their respective performances, culminating in an unforgettable performance. These performances make the movie more impactful, believable, and hard-hitting than most films I’ve seen because it brings a palpable sense of reality; this feels like a real situation with real people. 

Not only that, but because of these performances, the film has garnered as much traction as it has, specifically Brendan Fraser and Sadie Sink. These two actors gave the performances of a lifetime, bringing these characters to life and making it feel like a real father-daughter relationship; however, their on-screen relationship isn’t the only highlight. Every part of their characters, especially when separated, heightens our emotions and makes us relate more with said character, culminating when both are together on screen. 

This film presents its story in a way I’ve never seen before. This story doesn’t try to sugarcoat its themes, nor does it try to draw out the plot. Instead, it bluntly lays out the course of this story within its first few minutes of runtime, giving you all the pieces you need to catalyst the plot and then jumping right in, wasting no time; it shows that the writer and director know what they’re doing and are getting right to the point. 

This film is a masterpiece, telling a very existential story of a man trying to do one thing right with the time he has left, to right at least one of his many wrongs. It makes you dwell on your own life and mistakes, forcing you to sit with your wrongdoings in the past while showing that you can learn and grow from them. Though depressing, it’s a story that feels essential to witness, something you can take and learn from, then apply to your own life. Having said that, though I don’t resonate with the same struggles as Charlie, I still connect with his way of going about things because it feels genuinely human and realistic. 

This movie is near perfect but has some minute issues, specifically at the movie’s end, so I’d rate this a 9.5/10! This movie is the culmination of years of work, and that amount of time and dedication shows. If you have the time, I highly recommend watching this fantastic film, and I can guarantee you’ll leave that experience gaining something!