Given what I know of the world, I really shouldn’t be shocked by the atrocities of human cruelty showcased in Blackfish, the 2013 documentary on the whales at SeaWorld.  In all honesty, animal cruelty has never been a topic I’ve followed too closely, that is until I saw this film.

Blackfish examines some of the most dangerous incidents involving trainers and orcas in the last 40 years of SeaWorld, bringing to light the consequences of keeping this species in captivity for the sake of profit. The documentary mostly focuses on the life of performing killer whale Tilikum, who is responsible for three deaths and countless injuries.

Blackfish director Gabriela Cowperthwaite creates a confessional of sorts in which the sailors responsible for the capture of Tilikum and other orcas, as well as former SeaWorld trainers, may repent. While it is refreshing to see so many people on film admitting to their past errors, we must recognize that such a liberty is only awarded once all affiliations with SeaWorld are severed – they are no longer on the payroll, so now they can talk.

The efforts made in exposing 40 years of cover-ups did not go unnoticed or unrewarded. Although the film has only grossed roughly two million dollars, it has risen in popularity thanks to Netflix streaming and has been a trending topic on social media, which has allowed it to stay in the public’s attention since its release in July of 2013.

The overall attendance rate at SeaWorld dropped by five percent and the park reported $15.9 million in losses for 2013. It is unclear whether these losses are due to the Blackfish’s exposure of Tilikum dragging his trainers to the bottom of the pool, or merely high ticket prices attributed by SeaWorld CEO James Atchison.

Blackfish has also inspired lawmakers to join the fight against the captivity of Orcas: On March 7, the Orca Welfare and Safety Act was proposed, which outlaws killer whale shows. Under the bill, violators could face $100,000 in fines as well as six months in jail.

I’m very excited for all of the attention this film has received. It’s extremely well made and forces viewers to see a reality of orca shows that isn’t always addressed: it’s unsafe for the orcas and the humans.

At certain points, Blackfish made me physically sick from anger and grief. While any number of you may think this to be an exaggeration, I assure you the images in this film are enough to wrench the heart of anyone.

Blackfish is still available for instant streaming on Netflix. I won’t guarantee you’ll enjoy what you see, but it’s worth the watch.