What: Zoo (2007)Who: Kenneth Pinyan, the victim of what is knows as the "Enumcvlaw Horse Sex Death Case." In simplest terms, Pinyan, who went by the pseudonym "Mr. Hands," died from internal bleeding caused by a puncture of the colon, ultimately caused by having intercourse with a horse. The film never mentions him by his real name out of respect for his family, but the details of the case and his identity has been reported in the media.
What: So, by this point in reading this, you've either
- clenched in horror
- wondered if I'm joking
- laughed out loud
- wonder if this is a pornographic film
- wondered why I would ever recommend this film
- all of the above
Why it's Intriguing: Let's get one thing out of the way: the film does not show any individual having sexual intercourse with horses. If that is what you are seeking from this film, the actual video of the incident is online, and the magic of the internet will allow you to see it with a simple Google search. (To be completely accurate, a very brief flash of the video is shown in the context of the story, but it is appropriately used.)
Now that your biggest concern is out of the way, I can have an easier time convincing you that Zoo is a film worth watching. Pinyan belonged to a community in Enumclaw, Washington, a rural town outside of Seattle, of zoophiles who found each other on the internet. A man, only identified as "H" had a horse farm where he would invite the community for companionship, board games, home-cooked dinners, and access to his horses. Except for the horses,it seemed like a typical , not to mention idyllic, weekend with close friends.
The filmmaker had the cooperation of H and "The Happy Horseman," one of the men in the social group, but only through the use of audio interviews. Thus the film is comprised of dreamlike, low-key reenactments and location shots shown in conjunction with the audio. The scenes are not unlike a Terrance Malik film, more of a gallery of visual tableaus than a traditional film. The photography filter makes many shots feel like oil paintings of the overcast, often gray Pacific Northwest and the original music is haunting, meandering, and sets the mood perfectly.
Zoophiles, by definition, are people who are sexually attracted to animals. This film does not attempt to convince that zoophilia is legal, moral, natural, good, or to make you suddenly accept it in your view of sexuality. What is does, however, is make an attempt to understand the desires of a "Zoo," the moniker used for an individual who is a zoophile. One man involved in the gatherings at H's farm, identified as "Coyote," does appear as himself in the film and explains with great candor why he is a Zoo and why he had come to be.
Coyote tells of his lonely existence living with his mother, his journey from his hometown in Virginia to rural Washington State, preferring his own company and lack of need to constant verbal, written, or visual stimulation. He finds horses to be strong nonverbal communicators, providing the body language and nonverbal cues that show the connection they have with humans. Sure, I am on board with this, as an introvert I often find the company of pets more comforting than that of other humans. But at what point does this become a sexual attraction? It's a near impossible question to answer, and I surmise that is part of the hard-wired feelings all of us have that define our sexual preferences and desires. Coyote brings up the interesting point that Zoos often tend to also possess Asperger's syndrome, which is a reasonable assertion, considering those living with Asperger's often find human contact unpleasant. It's an interesting theory, but no specific medical claims are given (and of course, that is not to suggest that all individuals with Asperger's are sexually attracted to animals.)
Actor John Paulsen portrays Pinyan in a wonderful nonverbal fashion, his facial expressions providing the tension in maintaining his seemingly fulfilling life as a high-ranking engineer for Boeing and his love for his young son, yet harboring a secret and perhaps his conflict over being unsatisfied with his outward persona. The film invokes more curiosity and humanizing the man, but doesn't try to manipulate the viewer into seeing him as a victim or forcing sympathy.
The film also incorporates the narration of Jenny Edwards, a veterinarian who was charged with investigating claims of animal abuse of the horses on H's farm. Thus, the film brings up another compelling inquiry: are animals able to give sexual consent to humans? Despite showing the signs of inviting sex, i.e., mounting, vocalizations, displaying their rumps, etc., is this of their own volition? This comes into play when the story broke in the media, and the film treats us to some soundbites from pundits, including Rush Limbaugh, who surprisingly asserts that animals give consent.
Ultimately, after an investigation, no criminal charges were brought to the men involved in the case, except for some trespassing charges and other minor infractions. The horse that ultimately caused Pinyan's death was confiscated and gelded which is basically neutering a horse, which is a fascinating procedure shown in the film (again, nothing too graphic). Ironically, bestiality was not illegal in the state of Washington, but as a result of the case, a Republican senator introduced a law making it illegal in the state of Washington, which passed with flying colors, because, how could this be opposed?
The film closes with some beautiful shots of horses with Jenny Edwards musing, "I don't know quite yet how I feel about [people feeling loving and sexual attraction to an animal], but I'm right at the edge of being able to understand it." This is a nice summary of the film: it's about a bizarre situation that could be the butt of a joke or tabloid fodder, but the film gives serious consideration and respect for the lives of the people involved. This, to me, is the sign of a stellar documentary.
