Eric Goode’s HBO Series ‘Monsters of God’ Promises Reptiles and Eccentric Characters
Eric Goode, the filmmaker behind 'Tiger King' and 'Chimp Crazy', discusses his new HBO series 'Monsters of God'. He reveals the title is intentionally misleading, as the show focuses on reptiles and obsessive personalities. The series is filled with eccentric characters and reptiles.
Goode secured the series title from David Quammen's book on apex predators, with the author's blessing since they serve together on the Rainforest Trust board. The production recently earned the TV Premiere Audience Award at the 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival.
The cast includes several reptile traffickers, notably Tommy Crutchfield, who utters the show's title during filming. Executive producer Jeremy McBride points out that Gila monsters, though venomous, contributed to early GLP-1 medication development.
This documentary could influence public discourse on exotic animal ownership, potentially shifting blame from wildlife to human behavior. Viewers may develop a more nuanced understanding of the reptile trade's ethical dilemmas. Conservationists could see increased support for protecting these species, while regulators might find renewed justification for stricter oversight of trafficking networks. The series may ultimately challenge anthropocentric assumptions about dominion over nature.