Dark Waters delves into the investigation and case regarding DuPont, one of the world’s largest chemical companies, and creators of Teflon. Mark Ruffalo stars as Robert Bilott, a corporate lawyer from Cincinnati, Ohio.
Bilott is visited by a farmer from West Virginia, Wilbur Tennant, who inquires his help regarding a number of unexplained deaths regarding several of his cattle. Bilott is reluctant at first, believing the case is not worth his time until he visits Tennant’s farm and sees the effect firsthand that it has on the farm and livestock.
The EPA is a big factor in this movie. They are the sole party responsible for the outbreak of PFOA, a chemical that reappears within chemical testing with no medical information given. The EPA allows PFOA chemical to become unregulated, leading Bilott to file a lawsuit to obtain documents from DuPont. Within these documents, Bilott finds Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA-C8), which is a chemical manufactured by the Teflon corporation.
He also finds research and testing done by DuPont that point towards the buildup of numerous cancers and diseases. These tests were shown to have effects on animals, humans, and even pregnant mothers having birth defects with their children.
DuPont, through a court order, has to allow medical testing and monitoring for abiding residents to check for traces of PFOA within their blood systems. The water of DuPont became infected which poisoned its residents.
The thing this movie does well is that it puts an issue most people are not concerned about in the limelight. I had no idea this problem existed until I watched this movie. Nowadays, environmental issues are glanced over and not paid the attention it deserves. Dark Waters puts you in the front seat to see the environmental and societal impact that occurs when a health outbreak reaches a city.
Dark Waters Blu-ray and DVD includes special features. The Cost of Being A Hero, Uncovering a Hero, and The Real People. The Cost of Being a Hero is a real-life examination of the real-life of Rob Bilott and the sacrifices he had made to take down a powerful corporation. The cast and filmmakers discuss the importance of his story and the empowerment of whistleblowing.
Uncovering Dark gives an inside look into the storytelling of the real-life situation from Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, filmmakers, and crew. The Real People allows the viewer to meet the real citizens from Parkersburg, West Virginia as they share their experiences being on set and being a part of this film.
