Earthlings (2005)

Rated: NR

Genre: Documentary

Info: Official Website

Directed By: Shaun Monson

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Persia White

I would like to clarify before writing this that I am a fully grown, American male. I’m not by any definition of the word squeamish, and I hardly ever tear up. I am not a member of PETA, an environmentalist, a vegan, or even a vegetarian. Nor am I a hunter. I have no real bias either way…

…until seeing this movie.

“Earthlings” is a very disturbing documentary, including never before seen footage captured by hidden cameras. The film is separated into five categories of animal cruelty: pets; food; clothes; entertainment; and science. The message is one of empathy, not just for other human beings, but for all things living. It is stressed that the definition for the term “Earthling” is “an inhabitant of Earth”, not just humans. All living beings.

There were multiple aspects of this movie that I found deeply disturbing. I could not decide which was more upsetting: The lack of respect and attraction to torture and carelessness towards the needs and desires of animals; or the graphic images and sounds seen and heard in this documentary. Many times was I fighting back tears while watching the harsh, soulless torture of these innocent animals. I found myself just as often trying to keep my dinner down. This movie succeeds in its message because it does not tip-toe around the evidence, and nothing is sugar coated. It is in your face facts and reality.

I have seen many videos portraying the cruel abuse of animals. I have also seen footage of slaughterhouses and unclean farms. But I have seen nothing that holds a candle to what I witnessed in “Earthlings”. Cows being burned, starved, beaten, tortured, ridiculed (yes, even ridiculed). Pigs being boiled alive. Both animals having their throats cut open, and bleeding while still alive, and emitting a God-awful, heart-shattering screech. “Earthlings” also includes footage of poultry, seafood, whales and dolphins… all being beaten, spit on, tortured, and slaughtered mercilessly. Even Kosher slaughterhouses are shown, and believe me, they are anything but Kosher. As it turns out, the largest Kosher farm in the United States violates dozens of Kosher slaughtering rules, and they are anything but clean and merciful. They are sickening.

“Earthlings” is eye-opening. My jaw was on the floor for the entire first half of this movie. I was exposed to puppy mills, euthanasia, cramped and cruel gas chambers, dogs being shot. Topics such as overpopulation of stray animals, due to human selfishness and desire. Breeders are in high demand, leading to 25,000,000 homeless animals per year, 9,000,000 of which die on the streets due to disease/starvation/exposure/and injury. It is apparent that human beings view animals as a lesser form, and therefor they are slaughtered for personal delight and even entertainment. One grim scene depicts actual footage of a dog being thrown into a trash compactor, whilst still alive.

These are humans committing these crimes against morality. If they were committed against humans, they would be considered crimes against humanity. How ironic. The murder of a human being is not even considered to be comparable to the murder of hundreds of millions of animals per year.

Some may argue that humans commit these acts out of necessity; that we need to eat. However, this is not the case. This is exactly what the makers of this film are attempting to reveal as ignorance on our part. Not one act committed in this movie is a necessity. Not one. If it is a necessity to transport cows who are frightened and confused, cramped and starved, then why is it also necessary to rub chili pepper in their eyes?

Hunting is discussed as being a “blood sport”. It is said that humans are the only beings that inflict pain upon other beings, knowing well what pain is, for sheer amusement. Fishing is compared to hunting as equally cruel. Many people falsely believe that sea creatures die painlessly, especially in comparison to mammals. This is untrue, as they do not take into consideration that most sea creatures have more highly developed senses than mammals. Upsetting footage of animal testing is the latter part of this film, and just as hard to watch as the rest. Animals are tested for medical purposes, yet these tests must be repeated on humans, since humans and animals react differently. So what is the point?

There is none. It is a matter of ignorance and lack of empathy on our part. We travel to zoos and circuses to view animals in an unnatural and cruel habitat. Upon watching this movie, we are forced to ask ourselves many questions, such as: How can zoos be considered educational when the animals within them are in an unnatural environment? Do animals in circuses perform the way that they do because of reward, or is it because they are beaten and in fear of punishment? Is it ethical to treat animals as if they don’t have any emotion whatsoever, and don’t feel pain? When an animal attacks a human being after being tortured it’s entire life, why is it the animal’s fault?

As a species, we are the most selfish on Earth. We survive on the pain of other species, and show them little to no respect. We don’t see animals as our peers, rather, we see them as “things”. Not only are we hurting other species, but we are hurting ourselves. These farms and slaughterhouses create disgusting waste, which pollutes the oceans and help to breed serious and deadly bacteria. We are ruining our environment, and we don’t want to hear about it.

“Earthlings” is a film that everyone should see. It is not easy to watch, because of the simple fact that it’s all 100% true.

5 Knocks out of 5

View the movie for free here