Modern farms are struggling to keep a secret. Most of the animals used for food in the United States are raised in giant, bizarre factories, hidden deep in remote areas of the countryside.
Speciesism: The Movie director Mark Devries set out to investigate.
The documentary takes viewers on a sometimes funny, sometimes frightening adventure, crawling through the bushes that hide these factories, flying in airplanes above their toxic “manure lagoons,” and coming face-to-face with their owners.
But this is just the beginning. In 1975, a young writer published a book arguing that no justifications exist for considering humans more important than members of other species. It slowly began to gain attention. Today, a quickly growing number of prominent individuals and political activists are adopting its conclusions. They have termed the assumption of human superiority speciesism.
And, as a result, they rank these animal factories among the greatest evils in our history. Speciesism: The Movie brings viewers face-to-face with the leaders of this developing movement and fully examines the purpose of what they are setting out to do.
Speciesism: The Movie Confronts Contemporary Agriculture
“When I entered the theater to see Mark Devries’ film, Speciesism: The Movie, I was a speciesist. When I came out, I could no longer justify the treatment of animals with any rational arguments, because they were all demolished in this brilliant and compelling film. The intellectual debate over speciesism is now over.”
— Scientific American
“An adventure that is tremendously entertaining and often laugh-out-loud funny.”
— The Huffington Post
Speciesism: The Movie confronts contemporary agriculture, daring—in the face of cultural complacency and industry intimidation—to question its standard practices.
With undercover investigations occupying headlines almost monthly, it’s no mystery modern farms are struggling to keep secrets. Director Mark Devries takes his hunch about the business several steps further, following a gut feeling through to its logical conclusion. The first-time filmmaker tables law school and instead hits the road, unexpectedly uncovering answers to uncomfortable questions about privilege and sentience.
Most animals bred for food in the United States are raised in giant windowless sheds situated in remote locations across the country, largely out of sight and out of mind. Wondering why this is and determined to either allay his suspicions or break the case wide open, Devries embarks on an expedition. His hope? To prove he can confidently defend the use of animals for food, fashion, entertainment and research. Coming out the other side, however, Devries’ ideals are dashed and replaced by compelling evidence to the contrary.
Speciesism invites viewers to tag along on Devries’ funny-meets-frightening ride. Join him as he explores the elephant-in-the-room from all angles, literally. From flying and filming high above North Carolina’s toxic manure “lagoons,” to rooting around behind bushes, trying to get a better look at things no one’s supposed to see, Devries’ debut documentary elicits laughs whilst simultaneously shedding critical light on what’s happening right here at home on American soil.
In 1975, Australian author Peter Singer argued in Animal Liberation that no justifications exist for considering humans more important than members of other species. This controversial tome gradually gained traction and, today, a rapidly increasing number of prominent individuals and political activists are adopting its conclusions. They’ve dubbed the assumption of human superiority “speciesism” and, as a result, advocates rank “animal factories” among the greatest evils in our history. Speciesism brings audiences face-to-face with the leaders of this ever-evolving movement and, for the first time ever on film, fully examines the purpose of what they are setting out to do.
Thought-provoking and entertaining, Speciesism: The Movie takes viewers on an eye-opening journey that transcends Devries’ curiosities, arousing wonder in watchers and leaving a lasting impression on viewers of all walks.
For more information about Speciesism: The Movie, please visit: http://