Earlier this week,Netflixusers were treated to a unique documentary.Poop Cruise, part ofthe documentary seriesTrainwreck, recounts the events that unfolded aboard the luxury cruise ship Carnival Triumph in 2013. From its title, you can guess that a short cruise became a harrowing experience for the passengers. Yes, the use of the word “poop” is literal this time.
Although the documentary delivers plenty of gritty details about what the passengers endured, it’s not as informative as you might expect. It adheres to the typical Netflix code, with the same documentary format and style, and unfortunately, its 55-minute runtime feels short. Thousands of people went through something horrific, making you wonder: Is this really the best they could do?
The events ofPoop Cruiseare very similar to those depicted inTriangle of Sadness, one of the best movies of the 2020s so far. A fascinating black comedy that goes heavy on satire and offers sharply dark commentary on wealthy people facing their worst nightmare. Yes, the passengers aboard the Poop Cruise are not the same as those on the yacht in the film, but in times of crisis, all those aboard face the same hardships.
The people aboard the Poop Cruise had to relieve themselves in bags and stand in pools of urine and feces. But this seems minimal when compared to what the characters ofTriangle of Sadnesshad to endure.This is one film you must check out if you likedTrainwreck: Poop Cruise.
Triangle of Sadness
Netflix’s ‘Trainwreck: Poop Cruise’: A Vomit-Inducing Look at a Real and Smelly Disaster
Trainwreck: Poop Cruise
Nearly 4,000 passengers aboard the Carnival Triumph (now refurbished as the Carnival Sunrise) saw their cruise vacation turn into a horrific journey through hell when one of the ship’s engine rooms caught fire. They were stranded in the Gulf of Mexico, and help did not arrive quickly. The problem was that the power went out, turning off the sewage system, which only worked when the ship had electricity. Unfortunately, the cruise personnel lacked a protocol other than to instruct people to urinate in the shower. If they had to defecate, they were required to use plastic biohazard bags. Naturally, most refused.
Then again, whoever came up with the plan didn’t anticipate that rescue operations would drag on. To make things worse, they thought of opening the cruise’s bars and offering complimentary drinks.People drunk and dehydrated, feasting on whatever food the chefs can salvage, and no bathrooms to relieve themselves or wash up, is a recipe for disaster. When the bad weather arrived, the ship swayed uncontrollably. You can imagine what happened when the drains clogged and all the waste rose to the surface.
Regardless ofthe documentary’s quality,Poop Cruiseis a nasty experience. One that will leave you covering your mouth in shock, or holding back vomit. And if you think the events were shocking, wait until you see how Carnival tried to fix the entire situation.
Poop Cruise Documentary Fans Need To Watch ‘Triangle of Sadness’
Ruben Östlund’sTriangle of Sadnessfollows the story of several characters who jump on board a luxurious superyacht. The guests are all wealthy, and amid the luxury, they’re unaware that the ship’s captain is a volatile man. Always drunk inside his cabin, Captain Thomas Smith decides that dinner must be served during a storm. Hell ensues.
The food has gone bad, and many passengers have become seasick. The sewage system floods, and the power goes out. Finally, when the storm settles and the yacht has effectively turned into a poop cruise, pirates arrive. When a grenade is activated,the real journey begins for the survivors.
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Triangle of Sadnesspremiered at the Cannes Film Festival and won the Palme d’Or. It was also critically acclaimed upon its release, earning multiple nominations at the Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay (all of which were credited to Östlund). Today, the film holds a 72% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while the audience score is slightly higher at 80%.Trainwreck: Poop Cruisedoes not have ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, but on Letterboxd, it has a rating of 2.7 out of 5, a score that isn’t exactly flattering for the Netflix documentary.
The reasonTriangle of Sadnessis a good pick for fans ofPoop Cruiseis because the filmdoesshow you, in detail, what happens when things go wrong aboard a cruise ship with no power. The gross-out humor may be too much for some, but it’s perfect for anyone drawn to Netflix’s latestTrainwreckdocumentary.Triangle of Sadnessis currently streaming onHulu.Trainwreck: Poop Cruiseis streaming onNetflix.
