The Ending Timothy Treadwell spent the first hour of Werner Herzogs spellbinding Grizzly Man letting us into his insane world, showing us his unbelievable relationship with the Grizzly bear populace of Katmai National Park. In the build up to the saddening climax we had heard several mentions of an uncharacteristically mean bear whose old age inhibited its ability to hunt. This cranky old bear would eventually turn on Treadwell and his girlfriend Amie Huguenard, ripping them limb-from-limb before eating the animal-lovers. Depressing because At a rudimentary level it is obviously highly depressing that Timothy Treadwell was mauled to death by one of the creatures he dedicatd his life to understanding. It doesnt stop there though. The elderly grizzly which killed the couple was shot dead by Ranger Gilliland, something Treadwell explicitly mentions he did not want to happen. The final twist of the knife is one of the closing interviews with a park ranger which reveals that Treadwell likely caused far more harm than good by familiarising the bears with human contact it meant that the Grizzlies might not flee from the many hunters who patrol the vast expanses of park. A Silver-Lining? The fact that the beautiful photography of Treadwell has been immortalised in Herzogs haunting ode to obsession and natural beauty. Oh, and the bear didnt eat Treadwells lovely wristwatch.
Hailing from South East London, Sam Heard is an aspiring writer and recent graduate from the University of Warwick. Sam's favourite things include energy drinks, late nights spent watching the UFC with his girlfriend and annihilating his friends at FIFA.
