What happens when two rival reptile smugglers engage in a messy feud, reminiscent of the infamous Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin, is the focus of Director Eric Goode's new documentary, Monsters of God. The film, a co-production between Goode Films, HBO, and A24, delves into the reptile trade, taking its lead from the 2008 book The Lizard King by journalist Bryan Christy. At the center of the story are Hank Molt and Tommy Crutchfield, two men who kickstarted the illegal trade in the US, with a global supply chain. Their enduring beef and betrayals are the core of the documentary, which also explores other adjacent vendettas in the illicit reptilian market.
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the world of wildlife trading was marked by a "don't ask, don't tell" attitude, with many zoos happy to acquire animals from whoever had them, despite environmental concerns. This led to serious consequences for some of the creatures involved, including a stash of animals buried alive in New Jersey's Pine Barrens by Molt. The feud between Molt and Crutchfield culminates in a gruesome, revenge-fuelled confrontation at the end of the first episode, which sets the tone for the rest of the documentary.
However, the story becomes less focused as it progresses, entangling the illegal animal trade with the drug trade in the 80s, and attempting to shoehorn in every strange character and anecdote that the producers had access to. The documentary could have been more effective as a two-parter, but it is clear that Goode, a conservationist as well as a filmmaker, is interested in the impact of the reptile trade on the species involved. The final episode is dedicated to notorious dealer Anson Wong from Malaysia, and the smuggling that led to the ploughshare tortoise becoming all-but extinct in the wild.
Despite its meandering narrative, Monsters of God ultimately concludes on a positive note, with a sense that nature is healing. The documentary may lack the tight narrative thread of Tiger King, but it is a thought-provoking exploration of the underworld of the animal trade, and the consequences of human actions on the natural world. As a conservationist, Goode's interest in the subject matter is clear, and the documentary raises important questions about the impact of human activity on the environment.
