☆❀☆

Recently watched In the Heart of the Sea (2015), a film inspired by Nathaniel Philbrick's nonfiction book of the same title. It's about the sinking of the whaleship Essex after a sperm whale attack; Herman Melville later used this event as inspiration for Moby Dick.

I remember that before it came out, there was some buzz about it, but I didn't hear much about it after that. Nice that I got around to it eventually, at least. I'm always up for stuff on a ship.

It's very much inspired by the events of the Essex; a story, not a documentary. There are several points that are changed from the historical record for drama, and others that are invented/added to parallel Moby Dick rather than the actual historical events.

This is a very 'turn your brain off' sort of movie. Nothing spectacular, definitely not a must-see, but if you want something Tragic and set On A Ship, you can do worse than this one. The acting is all right, the effects aren't distracting, and the dramatic moments are suitably dramatic.

The book version of this is well worth a look if tragedy at sea, survival cannibalism, and/or the source of Melville's inspiration interests you.

...And now I'm reminded that I still haven't read Moby Dick. Really should get around to that one of these days.