The Elephant in the Living Room

The growing fad for keeping “exotic”—and dangerous—animals as pets is the subject of Michael Webber's engrossing documentary, which focuses on Tim Harrison, an Ohio policeman whose specialty is rescuing lions, snakes, and other wild beasts that have escaped their “homes” or been abandoned by their owners, and then locating spaces for them in zoos and shelters so the animals won't have to be euthanized. Harrison's description of his own past experiences is interwoven with segments filmed at conventions (where he demonstrates how easy it is to purchase venomous reptiles), as well as archival news footage about incidents in which creatures have attacked their owners, family members, and neighbors, plus drives by politicians to criminalize the practice of keeping wild “pets” in populated areas. Webber also introduces burly Terry Brumfield, a troubled man who's fought his depression through a close, loving relationship with a pair of African lions, and the intersection of his story and Harrison's adds genuine poignancy to the film. Even those viewers who believe that keeping wild animals in the home is completely bonkers (and some of Harrison's subjects do seem to be utterly obtuse about the dangers) will find that The Elephant in the Living Room offers a nuanced examination of a problem that is more complex than it might appear. DVD extras include an audio commentary, deleted scenes, and a related featurette. A fine companion doc to the similarly themed The Tiger Next Door (VL Online-7/10), this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)