Tiger King

2020

Original language: English

documentary
crime

The story

A zoo owner spirals out of control amid a cast of eccentric characters in this true murder-for-hire story from the underworld of big cat breeding.

What it’s like

Restless handheld footage of dusty Oklahoma roadside zoos, sun-bleached trailers, and cluttered backyards, cut with glossy talking-head interviews shot against plain walls and bright domestic kitchens. The colour is saturated and slightly garish, the sound a loose mix of wildlife roars, twangy country and rock cues, and deadpan confessionals that let the absurdity breathe. Its vibe is sun-baked, chaotic and darkly comic, with a creeping unease that surfaces whenever the bravado slips. Episodes move fast, with cliffhangers and sudden reversals that make binge-watching a natural fit, best suited to a late-night watch or a weekend marathon. Expect frequent strong language, cruelty to animals shown in unflinching detail, and talk of murder and violence, though graphic imagery is limited. Its people are vain, grandiose and self-mythologising, and the arc is a rivalry curdling into obsession and ruin. It suits viewers who want true-crime unreality, eccentric characters and a sharp look at the big-cat underworld.

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