The title of Elizabeth Banks and Universal Pictures’ Cocaine Bear would possibly sound somewhat ridiculous, however it advised viewers precisely what they wanted to know earlier than watching it. It was a couple of bear that did cocaine, and the chaos that quickly adopted. Despite the absurd nature of the premise, Cocaine Bear was, consider it or not, impressed by true occasions. This has triggered individuals to surprise simply how traditionally correct the movie was to these occasions.
In the mid-Nineteen Eighties, a drug-smuggling duo was trafficking cocaine from Colombia into the United States. While flying a Cessna 404 Titan, Andrew C. Thornton II discovered that his cargo was too heavy and determined to jettison 40 containers into the American wilderness. A black bear discovered and ripped open the containers, consuming near 75 kilos of cocaine. But was what occurred subsequent something like what occurred within the movie? Here is the true story of the real-life cocaine bear, defined.
Were Any of the Characters within the Movie Real People?
At the start of the movie, Andrew C. Thornton II (Matthew Rhys) dumped his cargo earlier than making an attempt to leap from his aircraft. In the method, he hit his head on the doorframe, leading to him dropping consciousness and falling to his dying. While “Andrew C. Thornton II” was certainly the identify of the true one who dropped the cargo, the main points of his dying had been modified for the movie. In real-life, Thornton didn’t knock himself unconscious and died due to a defective parachute. Thornton was 40 on the time of his dying and was a convicted drug smuggler, the pinnacle of a Kentucky smuggling ring, and a former policeman and lawyer who had beforehand educated as a paratrooper.
On the morning of September 11, 1985, Fred Myers regarded out the window of his Knoxville, Tennesse house to search out Thornton’s physique in his yard (through The Washington Post). Myers was an 85-year-old retired engineer on the time and remarked that he had “by no means had a touchdown” in his yard earlier than. Thornton was discovered tousled in a parachute with a damaged neck sporting a bulletproof vest, night-vision goggles, and Gucci loafers. He was additionally carrying weapons and as reported by the Associated Press, carrying practically 80 kilos of cocaine.
Cocaine Bear‘s Sari (Keri Russell), Daveed (O’Shea Jackson Jr.), Eddie (Alden Ehrenreich), and Syd (Ray Liotta) had been all fictional characters and weren’t based mostly on an actual particular person like Thornton. The movie portrayed its CG bear as a fiercely protecting mom when her real-life counterpart was not identified to have any cubs.
How Many People Did the Cocaine Bear Kill in Real-Life?
Cocaine Bear depicted its titular bear happening a murderous rampage. The lengthy listing of victims included Elsa, Peter, Vest, Tom, Olaf, and Syd, and people had been solely the folks that died on-screen. In real-life nevertheless, the cocaine bear has not been identified to have killed anybody. People dying from black bear assaults have been fairly uncommon, with AZ Animals itemizing a median of 1 deadly black bear assault in North America every year. The National Park Service has asserted that bears are normally solely occupied with “defending meals, cubs, or their area” and what’s extra, in accordance with Bear.org, there was no file of a mom black bear killing somebody to defend her cubs.
What the real-life cocaine bear did after consuming cocaine has remained shrouded in thriller. Why the bear was so drawn to the scent of the cocaine has additionally remained unknown, and this incident after all, has been thought to be a really uncommon incidence.
The over-the-top nature of Cocaine Bear must be sufficient to remind viewers that it’s not actual, however critics have already begun worrying concerning the potential sociocultural impression of the movie. Their considerations have revolved round whether or not audiences will have the ability to totally distinguish between the movie’s monstrous killer and actual black bears. When Jaws launched in 1975, many developed a concern of sharks, however there was additionally an increase in sharks being hunted for sport. Following the movie’s launch, the variety of giant sharks east of North America suffered a dramatic drop of about 50% (through Smithsonian Magazine). With Cocaine Bear portraying a black bear as an unstoppable beast, some would possibly really feel challenged and impressed to hunt the animal.
What Happened to the Cocaine Bear?
The bear in Cocaine Bear managed to outlive the occasions of the movie, leaving the door open for her to return in a doable sequel. The actual cocaine bear had a a lot totally different destiny, dying from a deadly overdose. Three months after Thornton dumped his cargo, the physique of the bear was discovered with a big quantity of cocaine in its abdomen.
After being stuffed, the bear was given to the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area earlier than being displayed on the “Kentucky for Kentucky Fun Mall” in Lexington. The bear has since continued to stay on show, and with the recognition of Cocaine Bear, the mall is actually about to have much more guests.
Cocaine Bear director Elizabeth Banks has referred to the bear as a sufferer of the American “War on Drugs,” describing her movie as the bear’s “revenge story.”