MovieChat Forums > Zoo (2008) Discussion > Where's the compassion?

Where's the compassion?

posted 14 years ago by redbirdbeat
3 replies | jump to latest

After seeing this recently on Sundance, I did some Googling. My God, the comments about this man: "One less pervo." "He got what he deserved." On and on and on. I cannot undertstand the hatred, rage and scorn for him.

Personally, I think this man was a victim of his own self-hatred. He was affluent, well-educated, his coworkers valued him as a highly intelligent employee. He had to know his rather unusual proclivities could lead to some horrible consequences.

And that's why I don't put him in the same category as his so-called friends (who unceremoniously dumped him at the hospital). These other men seemed more like societal outsiders. They didn't have families or high-status careers. No real reputations in their communities.

But our guy had so much to live for, it seemed. (I'm sorry, I'd rather not type his name. I know it's all over the internet, but still....) He loved his son, had a great relationship with his ex-wife and birth family. He had love and respect. John Paulsen, the actor who portrayed him in the film, said he believes he was on a path to self-destruction after suffering from injuries sustained from a motorcycle accident and personal failures.

I can't help but wonder if this was some extreme version of self-harm. Pardon me for being gross, but I saw a still from the actual video, and, um, er, his genitals looked so damaged, yet he CONTINUED with his behavior. I find that terribly odd, considering how most men are very protective of their privates.

Oh well. While I don't understand this man, neither do I understand the vitriol I see online. He was obviously in pain.

Call me crazy, but I just feel so sorry for him and his family.

[–] gay_geisha 14 years ago

You are right. There is a kind of aragont malice displayed by many. When condeming an action, it always feels so warm and safe to be doing it, in the company of so many others. Whether they be right or wrong. It represents merely the cruel, heartless side of humanity.

I don't claim to understand his behavior, whether it was self destructive or not, nor do I claim to undertsand what compels a human to have those relations with an animal. But these people need to be helped. I myself am fascinated by why people would do this, and if there had been more sympathy, than we may have got closer to discovering why.

Mr Hand's death allowed us a glimpse into that world. And what suprised me was the apparant real love these people had for their animals - it was not as if they were treating them badly. People are treated in a much better fashion who willfully mistreat, overwork and physically bully animals in their care.

But I really enjoyed this film, and it will continue to haunt me.

'Here lieth Beech Buchanan, protected by the ejaculation of serpents.'

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] Samuraibro 8 years ago

"cruel heartless side of humanity" lmao that's right. The people condemning this idiot for screwing a horse are worse than the animal rapist. Good God, shut the hell up. You're not enlightened for painting all of humanity as being cruel and heartless when your only sample is an IMDb board.