Zoo (2007)

Director:

Robinson Devor

Writers:

Robinson Devor
Charles Mudede

Release Date:

30 May 2008 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary

Tagline:

We are not who we appear to be.

Plot:

A look at the life of an Enumclaw, Washington man who died as a result of an unusual encounter with a horse. |

Plot Keywords:

Horse | Small Town | Cremation | Scandal | Surrealism

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Coyote	...	Himself
Jenny Edwards	...	Herself
John Edwards	...	Himself
John Paulsen	...	Mr. Hands
Ron Carrier	...	The Happy Horseman
Russell Hodgkinson	...	H
Tom Gormally	...	The Polishman
Forest Fousel	...	Capitol Hill man (as Forest L. Fousel)
Brad Harrington	...	Bremerton man
Andrew Scott McIntyre	...	Military man (as Andrew McIntyre)
Richard Carmen	...	Mr. Hands' brother
Ken Kreps	...	Mr. Hand's father
Malayka Gormally	...	Mr. Hands' wife
Conor Gormally	...	Mr. Hands' son
Robert Padilla	...	The rancher
Janine Rose Schweickert	...	The rancher's wife
Paul Eenhoorn	...	Lead detective
Michael J. Minard	...	Cop #1 (as Michael Minard)
Robert Power	...	Detective #2
Melissa Albin	...	Additional Voice Talent (voice)
Jessica Aceti	...	The Stewardess
Susan M. Carr	...	Coyote's Mother (as Susan Carr)
Bob Fink	...	Emergency room doctor
Karl Holzheimer	...	The Photographer
Marjorie Maler	...	The Unknown Girl
Bill McQuaid	...	The Hunter
Don Reid	...	The Pilot
Patrick Shoe	...	Male Nurse
Patricia Watson	...	Female Nurse
Somebody's Baby	...	Animal
Jonah	...	Animal
Pete	...	Animal
Terry	...	Animal
Carson	...	Animal
Grady	...	Animal
Diesel	...	Animal
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rush Limbaugh	...	Himself (archive sound) (uncredited)

Directed by
Robinson Devor

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Robinson Devor
Charles Mudede

Produced by
Peggy Case	....	producer
Ben Exworthy	....	executive producer
Alexis Ferris	....	producer
Garr Godfrey	....	executive producer
Megan Griffiths	....	co-producer
Daniel Katz	....	executive producer
Randy Manis	....	executive producer
Jeff Sackman	....	executive producer
Mark Urman	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Paul Matthew Moore

Cinematography by
Sean Kirby

Film Editing by
Joe Shapiro

Production Design by
Jeanne Cavenaugh

Art Direction by
Alison Kelly

Set Decoration by
Kimberly Diehl

Costume Design by
Doris Black

Makeup Department
Jennifer Popochock	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Joe Shapiro	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ben Dobyns	....	first assistant director
Megan Griffiths	....	first assistant director
Mischa Jakupcak	....	second assistant director
Rachel Temerlies	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Angelica Hesse	....	art department intern

Sound Department
Ollie Glatzer	....	sound effects designer
Sam Gray	....	adr recordist
Dave Howe	....	sound re-recording mixer
Paul Matthew Moore	....	foley artist
Matt Sheldon	....	sound mixer
Vinnie Smith	....	sound mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Fink	....	still photographer
Adam Forslund	....	assistant camera
Bruce Henderson	....	key grip
Teresa Hill	....	swing
Ryan Middleton	....	key grip
Sean Porter	....	gaffer
T.J. Williams Jr.	....	Steadicam operator
T.J. Williams Jr.	....	first assistant camera

Editorial Department
Elisa Haradon	....	assistant editor
Tim Maffia	....	digital color grading

Transportation Department
Robert Power	....	driver: cast

Other crew
Carey Christie	....	key set production assistant
David Emery	....	animal handler
David Emery	....	animal trainer
Rachel Evans	....	production coordinator
Bob Fink	....	psychiatric consultant (as Bob Fink MD)
Malayka Gormally	....	office support
Elisa Haradon	....	research coordinator
Elizabeth Heile	....	production supporter
Elizabeth Heile	....	researcher
James Hopkins	....	animal handler
Robert Risdall	....	consultant: pathology (as Robert Risdall MD)
Taryn Rux	....	location manager: pick-ups
Sarena Schumacher	....	key set production assistant
Rachel Temerlies	....	production coordinator
Stacey Walters	....	production attorney
Chris Weeg	....	key set production assistant
Paul Yaeger	....	mountain guide / production assistant

Distributors

• THINKFilm (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• MRA Entertainment Group (2007) (Australia) (DVD)
• Revolver Entertainment (2007) (UK) (all media)
• Seven Films (2007) (Greece) (all media)
• Sundance Channel (2007) (USA) (TV)
• THINKFilm (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• THINKFilm (2007) (non-USA) (all media) (sales)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:80 min (Sundance Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Manitoba) | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Seattle, Washington, USA

Trivia:

The horse performer in this movie was a Thoroughbred mare named 'Somebodys Baby', and is a former successful racehorse. The horse in the incident portrayed was in reality an Arabian stallion.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Exploding Girl (2009)

Horseback-riding… Only, in reverse!

Please don't let the graphic title of this user-comment mislead you (I just couldn't resist writing this), as "Zoo" is – in fact - everything but an exploitative and perverted excuse to finally revolve a movie on the controversial topic of bestiality. As strange as it may sound, this documentary/drama is actually very sober, tasteful and not the least bit disrespectful towards people with peculiar (to put it mildly) sexual likings. Robinson Devor, the young and clearly promising young writer/director of "Zoo", based himself on real events as they occurred in Seattle in 2005. A middle aged and divorced man died there as a result of internal bleedings after – and here comes the kicker – experiencing sexual intercourse with a horse. The media promptly jumped onto this story and in practically no time the authorities unraveled a small but nevertheless fanatic network of people who regularly gathered for a weekend of beer, pizza and … animal sex. The "shocking" news spawned a giant debate and even some riots because apparently there weren't any laws against bestiality in the state of Washington at the time and all sorts of animal rights organizations launched hate-campaigns. Rather than to bluntly categorize the Zoos (short term for Zoophiles) as sick & twisted individuals as well, Devor's film digs a lot deeper into their pasts and personalities. The documentary primarily depicts these Zoos as confused and introverted people with a devoted affection for animals. Of course this doesn't justify their sexual preferences, but at least you don't simply label them as a bunch of perverted freaks. In the hands of any other random exploitation-filmmaker, "Zoo" probably would have existed of nothing more than images of slavering rednecks cheering and queuing to bend over in front of a horse. There isn't a single explicit shot to be found in "Zoo" and the story hardly even hints at sleaze or schlock. If anything, you almost feel like Robinson Devor is to blame for patronizing & protecting these Zoophiles too much, but then still you don't as they already suffered more than enough scandal in various other media. The narrative and filming style of "Zoo" is also quite original and refreshing. The on screen characters are, with the exception of some supportive ones, hired actors but the guiding voice-overs come from actual interviews with the real Zoos. The bitterness and noticeable martyr-tone in their voices gives a whole unique dimension of realism to the film. The photography is truly enchanting and the sober music, oh my God the music, literally sent cold shivers down my spine. Regardless of the questionable subject matter, "Zoo" is a dreamy & highly elegant film that comes with my highest possible recommendation.