The 1977 ecological-horror film Orca: The Killer Whale is finally getting a North American Blu-ray release, courtesy of Scream Factory. Directed by Michael Anderson, the film is based on the Arthur Herzog novel of the same name. Perhaps because the film was vastly overshadowed by the Steven Spielberg classic Jaws, which had hit theaters just two years prior, Orca doesn’t seem to get the recognition these days that some might say it should.
That now changes with the upcoming Blu-ray release for this summer, with the cover art alone warranting a purchase for horror movie collectors. For those unfamiliar with the film, it stars Richard Harris, Bo Derek, Charlotte Rampling, and Will Sampson. As it sounds, the film is reminiscent of Jaws and similar shark-horror movies, though this one features a killer whale. The film is not quite as well-acclaimed as Jaws, but if you know that going in and you’re a fan of ’70s movies and/or eco-horror, Orca: The Killer Whale should make a fun addition to your Blu-ray collection.
You can watch the official trailer right here to see what the film is like.
Synopsis: Ocean-going tale with ecological overtones in which a ruthless profiteering fisherman accidentally kills the pregnant mate of a canny killer whale. It’s `Jaws’ meets `Moby Dick’ as the bounty hunter becomes the target of the enraged, grief-stricken creature’s craving for vengeance.
RELATED: Why ‘Orca: The Killer Whale’ Is More than a ‘Jaws’ Rip-off
The Orca: The Killer Whale Blu-ray will be available on June 30, 2020. Extras will be announced by the company at a later date, but the Blu-ray is said to come with a reverse cover with alternate poster artwork. Considering other Scream Factory Blu-ray releases, it will likely come with loads of extra features. Pre-order links will be coming soon to the official Scream Factory website. You can take a look at the Blu-ray announcement from Scream Factory below.
BREAKING (or waves crashing?): Swim for your life this Summer as ORCA comes hunting on Blu-ray for the first time in North America! https://t.co/KiQnQy1w12 pic.twitter.com/lUyWxznI6P
— Scream Factory™ (@Scream_Factory) March 9, 2020
