2024 Show
United States of America · English
From the makers of Tiger King comes another shocking story between one delusional human and her beloved wild animal
Chimp Crazy, like Tiger King before it, is a difficult watch. It follows chimpanzee owners and their almost fanatic loyalty to the primates (one famously breastfed a chimp and raised her as her child), but mostly it trails Tonia Haddix, an animal broker who is obsessed with the 32-year-old chimp and sometime Hollywood star Tonka. I won’t spoil the things she does to save their relationship, but I assure you it’s chilling and outrageous. That said, shock isn’t the only thing Chimp Crazy has going for it. The curious way it’s filmed is surely cause for debate. And the way everyone here—whether that’s Haddix, the occasional dangerous chimp, or the near-manipulative director Eric Goode—seems at once manipulative and sympathetic is a feat of its own.
Former nurse-turned-exotic animal broker Tonia Haddix, who refers to herself as the “Dolly Parton of chimps”, spends her days caring for animals in captivity. However, her limitless love for one chimpanzee in particular spins into a wild cat-and-mouse game with authorities and an animal rights group.
"...it’s so haunting to watch the human beings depicted in the HBO docuseries Chimp Crazy as they carry on their relationships with captive chimpanzees..."
— Vinson Cunningham
The documentary trails wild animal broker Tonia Haddix and her quest to “protect” (or depending on where you stand, “hold captive”) the Hollywood chimp staple Tonka.
Goode gives her dimension, but Haddix is one unforgettable character.
And you thought Tiger King was crazy.
Renee Cuisia is the lead curator at A Good Movie to Watch. In her spare time, she likes to watch K-dramas and analyze them to death. She's also seen You've Got Mail one too many times but is still convinced it's one of the greatest films out there.
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