At a time where frightening Nazi subculture is on the rise, and antisemitism is at a recent peak, Tim Travers Hawkins’ gritty exposé of an institution particularly nostalgic for the Jewish community is jarringly tragic. While styled too much like traditional History Channel content for my taste, American Zoo powerfully reveals the dark side of a beloved childhood landmark. 
The high profile status of Catskill Game Farm as the “largest privately owned zoo in the United States” is persuasively supported by a wealth of notable supporters, including Dr. Seuss’ frequent patronage and the loan of its animals for inclusion in film. Irony is not lost here as founder Roland Lindemann both celebrates animals and exploits them for profit, not only through capture, but also through his affinity for butchery and pride for selling the best hamburgers in town.
A vast collection of well shot home movies, recordings of life on the property, and old photograph elicits vivid storytelling. First hand accounts from Roland’s daughter, Kathie Schulz, and Margarete Heck and spouse Bill Earnshaw, descendants of Heinz, bring a personal touch to otherwise dry subject matter. Rather than solely presenting archival material, a unique approach depicts Kathie in old age reflecting on these recordings as she watches on a vintage projector.
Animal lovers are hooked early on with tender shots of children feeding baby bears or hugging llamas. However, the tide rapidly turns when animal abuse imagery, such as a tranquilized elephant or jarring pile of bones, is given center stage.
High production value and skillful editing allow each clip to flow smoothly to the following. Audio-only interviews are enhanced by playing overlaid on relevant footage from the vault. Antique film spliced between modern day sequences following former zookeepers exploring the territory make the grounds more tangible for the audience.
Travers Hawkins’ piece thrives with coverage directly discussing the zoo. As it veers into Nazi territory in Germany, the average viewer may briefly lose interest. Too much time is spent developing the Heck family backstory, in effect overshadowing the intended focus in upstate New York. That is not to say that this section is irrelevant. However, given Lutz Heck is not directly affiliated with the zoo, his experience should not have received more screen time than that of resident zoologist, Dr. Heinz Heck.
All in all, American Zoo thrives in turning a previously picture-perfect image of nostalgia on its head, bringing real life horror to the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival on Thursday, June 4th.
