The Elephant in the Living Room
"DIA" Productions GmbH & Co. KG | Release Date: April 8, 2011 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
69
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews
Positive:
9
Mixed:
2
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
83
The A.V. ClubJosh ModellApr 16, 2011
Gripping, maddening, well-told stories. Read full review
80
Los Angeles TimesKevin ThomasApr 5, 2011
This impeccably made film is chock-full of enlightening and sometimes bizarre moments. Read full review
80
VarietyPeter DebrugeApr 5, 2011
Audiences can't possibly predict the upsetting twist to Landry's story, nor the welcome surprise that precedes it, but these two scenes -- both of which Webber was fortunate enough to capture on camera -- are documentary gold. Read full review
75
New Orleans Times-PicayuneMike ScottApr 5, 2011
There are moments when the freak-show elements of the film threaten to overpower its message, but that message is such a fascinating one -- and the debate an important one as well -- that The Elephant in the Living Room manages to overcome them. Read full review
75
Orlando SentinelRoger MooreApr 5, 2011
The Elephant in the Living Room is damning, but also very sad. These stories, as Harrison points out, never have a happy ending. Read full review
70
Chicago ReaderJ.R. JonesApr 14, 2011
Partly funded by the Humane Society, this gripping documentary by Michael Webber rips the lid off a scandal that periodically turns up on local newscasts but then disappears from public consciousness. Read full review
70
The New York TimesJeannette CatsoulisApr 7, 2011
Fair to a fault, "Elephant" omits what could be considered crucial voices - like lawmakers, the Humane Society (which helped finance the film) and mental-health professionals - in its attempt to understand those who believe their particular beast is as harmless as a kitten. At least until it rips someone's face off. Read full review
70
Village VoiceMark HolcombApr 5, 2011
The film ultimately serves as an edifying (who knew Ohio's Amish were big into exotic-animal auctions?) and unsensational (excepting one horrifying scene involving Brumfield's beloved male lion) look into a peculiar corner of American acquisitiveness. Read full review
63
Boston GlobeWesley MorrisApr 7, 2011
The movie effectively rids you of any notion that owning a cougar or a python is a good idea. Read full review
60
Boxoffice MagazineBarbara GoslawskiApr 5, 2011
The result is a lively mix of informative and enlightening storytelling, with a healthy dash of poignancy. Read full review
50
New York PostV.A. MusettoApr 8, 2011
As my cat, Audrey, will confirm, I love animals. But I draw the line at having lions, tigers, gigantic snakes, bears and other predators as pets. Other people have different opinions. Read full review
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