Zoo

Released Apr 25, 2007

1h 15m

Documentary

List

61%

51 Reviews

Tomatometer

36%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Filmmaker Robinson Devor examines the taboo subject of bestiality. He centers the film around the case of a Seattle aircraft engineer, who died in 2005 after performing a sexual act with a stallion. The filmmaker interviews a number of zoophiles and uses dramatic re-enactments to illustrate their anonymous comments.

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Critics Consensus

While a marginally fascinating look at a taboo subject, Zoo is bogged down by its overly artistic presentation.

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Jacob H

There are some pieces of media that are the definite masterpieces of their genre. Romeo and Juliette, The Bible, Metal Gear Solid 3, but all of these pail in comparison to Zoo, for their impact on their genre. It is so ground-breaking it has shattered the realities of film, to the point where all previous Wouks are pale imitations of Zoo's glory, and as such should be subjected an eternity in purgatory for having the Audacity to challenge this film. The cinematography, the plot, the characters, the themes and emotions, the historically accurate reenactments, and the gripping tension, provide such a complete and brilliant retelling of such a fascinating tale. Truly nothing can compare to this bastion of quivering perfection. Its greatness is so hard to perceive, that giving it five stars, is an affront to not only to the film, but god and anime. Thank You for your time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/25/23

Full Review

Jose C

A drawn-out version of an internet search on this topic, to the point where it annoyingly takes almost an hour to realize how little substance is included in this film. I expected an exploration into the people involved, or a perspective on beastiality in the larger context of how we treat animals - or any kind of perspective on this situation, but there isn't anything going on here, and the cinematography is not impressive enough to account for that. To top it off, the film is intentionally vague - except there isn't any true mystery because it doesn't tell us anything we didn't already know.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I love to talk about this film. You can tell a lot about a person by how they feel about this film. Just knowing that someone has seen the film says a lot about them. It approaches a very divisive subject (beastiality) from an amoral perspective. Its up to you, the viewer, to decide how you feel about the men's behavior. Is it wrong? In context of all of human behavior through all of civilization, how wrong is it? The documentary unfolds like a noir. Sean Kirby's cinematography is strikingly dark, digging into the loneliness and isolation of the characters. Robinson Devor and Charles Mudede adopt a non-linear storytelling, designed to challenge your preconceptions of the situation and spark inner dialogue. One of the top ten documentaries I've ever seen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

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Audience Member

If I could allot negative stars to this abomination, I would do so without a moment's hesitation.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Audience Member

Zoo is bizarre, disturbing, and yet magical in the way it presents itself. However, it sometimes gets too artistic for it's own sake, and as a result the narrative can be lost under the piles of stunning cinematography.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

"Nobody gets me like you do Mister Ed, you're such a good listener." Fantastic direction of a rejected "Twilight Zone" story. Creepy and fascinating.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

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Critical Consensus: This Film Is "Condemned"; "Next" Vexes; Guess "Invisible," "Kickin’ It" Tomatometers!

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David Fear

Blender

What’s most surprising, however, is how [filmmaker Robinson Devor is] able to make a film about such a sensationalistic subject and have it be neither unbearably sleazy nor cringe-inducing.

Sep 8, 2023

Full Review

Wesley Morris

Boston Globe

Rated: 3/4

Nov 24, 2011

Full Review

Hank Sartin

Time Out

Rated: 3/5

Nov 18, 2011

Full Review

Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

A beautiful and quietly unnerving film about a forbidden subject...that leaves us wishing there was more to it.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 6, 2019

Full Review

Emily Ashby

Common Sense Media

Patterson's tense doomsday thriller is campy but curious.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 7, 2015

Full Review

Anton Bitel

Eye for Film

Devor is not interested either in condemning or condoning bestiality, but rather in trying to understand the strange workings of the human animal.

Jul 10, 2008

Full Review

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Synopsis

Filmmaker Robinson Devor examines the taboo subject of bestiality. He centers the film around the case of a Seattle aircraft engineer, who died in 2005 after performing a sexual act with a stallion. The filmmaker interviews a number of zoophiles and uses dramatic re-enactments to illustrate their anonymous comments.

Director: Robinson Devor
Producer: Garr Godfrey, Ben Exworthy, Daniel Katz, Mark Urman, Jeff Sackman, Randy Manis
Screenwriter: Robinson Devor, Charles Mudede
Distributor: ThinkFilm
Production Co: Cook Ding
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 25, 2007, Original
Release Date (DVD): Sep 18, 2007
Box Office (Gross USA): $69.0K
Runtime: 1h 15m