The Elephant in the Living Room

PG

2010

1h 36m

Documentary

List

83%

Tomatometer

23 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

While wild animals are mere subjects of fascination for many, some in the United States take the step of bringing them into their homes. This documentary explores the trend of individuals keeping exotic animals as pets and the problems that surround the issue. Among those interviewed are Tim Harrison, an expert on dealing with dangerous pets that have escaped or can't be controlled by their owners, and Terry Brumfield, a troubled man who finds solace in his relationship with his two pet lions.

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Jeff Shannon

Seattle Times

An exceptionally compassionate, fair-minded film that clearly states, beyond any rational benefit of the doubt, that raising potentially dangerous animals as pets is destructive to animals and humans alike.

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 28, 2011

Full Review

Tasha Robinson

AV Club

The documentary shoots fish in a barrel -- or maybe snakes in Tupperware -- but it does so with gripping, maddening, well-told stories.

Rated: B+

Apr 14, 2011

Full Review

Brian Tallerico

HollywoodChicago.com

This fascinating documentary shines a light into an underreported corner of America, the backyards and living rooms that currently house deadly exotic animals that should never have found themselves in captivity at all, much less as pets.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 13, 2011

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Lindy West

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

A documentary about America's thriving exotic-pet subculture, The Elephant in the Living Room keeps its feet firmly and patiently planted in the OH-MY-GOD-PEOPLE-GET-A-GRIP camp, without losing sight of its subjects' humanity.

Aug 25, 2017

Full Review

Danny Minton

Fort Bend Sun

Incredibly informational, interesting and profoundly moving.

Rated: A-

Sep 19, 2011

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Philip Martin

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

alarming and heartbreaking documentary ... examines the small but apparently rapidly growing subculture of people who keep exotic animals as pets.

Rated: 87/100

May 15, 2011

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Audience Member

Oh my gosh this was so sad!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Very well put together and gripping story about a serious issue involving exotic pets....I didn't expect much going into the documentary and was pleasantly surprised. 3.5 stars

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Holy crap, there's some harrowing shit, in here...

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I completely understand the argument of this film and i am whole heartedly compassionated towards Tim Harrison--an Ohio Police officer whose friend was killed by an exotic animal and now fights every day to re-home these types of exotic 'pets'--and Terry Brumfield--a disturbed but heartbreaking elderly man who is raising FIVE lions in trailers and made shift cages--but the story and/or message is somewhat lost or weakened by a misunderstanding of storytelling and documentary filmmaking on the directors part. The score--borderline Sarah McLachlan SPCA commercial bad--is so in your face and unrelenting that is numbing. Though a great subject to do a documentary on, i cant help but wonder what the outcome would be in a more subtle filmmakers hands.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Both touching and terrifying.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

big kittys and baby kittys xx

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

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Michael Webber

Director

Michael Webber

Writer

Michael Webber

Producer

Ross Hammer

Executive Producer

Russ Muntz

Executive Producer

Michael Webber

Cinematographer

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Synopsis

While wild animals are mere subjects of fascination for many, some in the United States take the step of bringing them into their homes. This documentary explores the trend of individuals keeping exotic animals as pets and the problems that surround the issue. Among those interviewed are Tim Harrison, an expert on dealing with dangerous pets that have escaped or can't be controlled by their owners, and Terry Brumfield, a troubled man who finds solace in his relationship with his two pet lions.

Director: Michael Webber
Producer: Michael Webber
Screenwriter: Michael Webber
Production Co: NightFly Entertainment
Rating: PG (Thematic Material|Mild Language|Some Disturbing Situations|Smoking)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 17, 2017
Runtime: 1h 36m

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