Similar to Netflix's documentary The Liver King this is not actually a documentary but a feature length commercial for the subject's social media channels. The tonal sycophancy is not surprising given the movie is directed by Ramsey's husband Juan Oliphant, who is featured as a subject as if he is not the director. The movie is billed as co-directed by James Reed of My Octopus Teacher but his name does not actually appear on any official cast & crew lists for the project.
The shots of Ramsey swimming with sharks are cool and beautiful. Unfortunately that is the only credible, interesting, or believable part of the movie. It is quite transparent Ramsey & Oliphant's lively hood(which is affluent) is a result of their social media ad revenue, their merchandising, and their swim-with-sharks tours which every aspect of this movie promote while couching all of it as "conservation" and "education". The issue is no actual data is ever presented and no experts are featured to convey any context. Ramsey's bonafides and background are never discussed other than she started swimming with sharks at a young age. Through Ramsey's interviews she explicitly says she does not feel like a human being, her relationship with Oliphant appears uneven and co-dependent, and her glassy 100-mile stare and explicit confirmation of her not being able to express emotion imply an ocean of underlying issues, none of which are explored or even acknowledged within the movie.
This is just so transparently a hustle. So obviously an attempt at marketing. So perversely not about sharks or the environment but about personal recognition and personal wealth from two sick individuals attempting to sell the viewer a delusion they have convinced themselves of. Its offensive boarding on the grotesque. Compare this movie to one with a very similar subject, the more nuanced, thought-provoking Grizzly Man and all the pretentions and posturing of Shark Whisperer crumble and reveal it for what it is a base, bastardized, violation of the creatures they profess to love in service to deluded avarice.
Currently streaming on Netflix.
Don't See It.
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