Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
After the global success of Tiger King, filmmaker Eric Goode returns with Monsters of God, a five-part HBO Max documentary exploring the shadowy world of illegal reptile trafficking. Packed with eccentric personalities, decades-long rivalries and shocking wildlife crimes, the series aims to capture the same unpredictable energy that made Tiger King a cultural phenomenon.
While Monsters of God offers compelling insights into the international wildlife trade, its sprawling narrative struggles to maintain the sharp momentum needed to keep viewers fully invested.
What Is Monsters of God About?
Based in part on journalist Bryan Christy’s book The Lizard King, the documentary follows the rise of America’s underground reptile trade and the men who helped shape it.
At the centre of the story are wildlife dealers Hank Molt and Tommy Crutchfield, whose bitter rivalry fuels much of the series.
Through interviews, archival footage and investigative reporting, the documentary explores how exotic reptiles were smuggled, sold and supplied to collectors, private buyers and even major institutions.
A Colourful Cast of Real-Life Characters
Much like Tiger King, the documentary introduces viewers to larger-than-life personalities whose lives are filled with unexpected twists.
Among the stories featured are:
- Fierce rivalries between reptile dealers.
- International wildlife smuggling operations.
- Rare reptiles worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
- Links between the exotic animal trade and organised crime.
- Encounters involving law enforcement and undercover investigations.
These unusual characters give the series plenty of memorable moments, especially during its opening episode.
Strong Beginning, Uneven Finish
The documentary starts with a gripping exploration of personal feuds and illegal wildlife trafficking, quickly drawing viewers into its world.
However, as the series progresses, the narrative expands into multiple side stories involving unrelated criminal activities and additional personalities.
While many of these anecdotes are entertaining, they often distract from the documentary’s central focus on reptile trafficking.
The result is a series that occasionally feels overextended rather than tightly structured.
Conservation Remains the Heart of the Story
Beyond the colourful personalities and true-crime elements, Monsters of God delivers an important environmental message.
The documentary highlights the devastating consequences illegal wildlife trafficking has had on endangered reptile species around the world.
One of the later episodes focuses on international smuggling operations involving the critically endangered ploughshare tortoise, demonstrating how illegal animal trafficking continues to threaten biodiversity.
Rather than simply celebrating eccentric personalities, the documentary ultimately shifts attention toward conservation and the urgent need to protect vulnerable wildlife.
Final Verdict
Monsters of God may not recreate the cultural impact of Tiger King, but it remains an engaging documentary for viewers interested in true crime, conservation and the illegal wildlife trade.
Although the five-part format occasionally loses narrative focus, the series succeeds in revealing a little-known criminal underworld while reminding audiences of the real environmental cost behind the exotic pet market.
