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6.7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Zoo in Budapest remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, maybe? If you are in the mood for something that feels like a black-and-white dream, you will probably dig this. If you need a movie to keep you awake with twists and turns, you are going to be checking your phone every ten minutes. It is a movie for people who like to watch characters just… exist.
The whole thing feels like it was filmed inside a fever dream of a 1930s zookeeper. The animals are everywhere. Sometimes they are the best actors in the scene. There is this one shot where a monkey just stares directly into the lens, and for a second, I forgot what the plot was even about.
Loretta Young is doing a lot of heavy lifting here with just her eyes. She is supposed to be this runaway kid, and she pulls it off with that specific kind of vulnerability that doesn't feel like acting. Gene Raymond plays the guy who loves the zoo animals more than people, which, honestly, I get. He moves through the cages like he owns the place, which is a bit creepy but mostly just endearing.
The background noise is wild. You have got actual animals making noise while people are trying to have serious, romantic conversations. It creates this layer of chaos that most movies from that era tried to edit out, but here it stays. It makes the world feel surprisingly real, even if the sets are obviously painted backdrops.
I found myself thinking about A Daughter of the Gods for a split second, mostly because of how much time they spend just letting the camera hang out in nature. There is no rush to get to the next plot point. The pacing is slow, almost sleepy.
Some of the supporting cast are clearly just there to fill space, like they wandered in from the set of The Border Cavalier and forgot to change their clothes. It doesn't matter. The movie doesn't seem to care, so why should I?
There is a scene near the middle where the tension is supposed to be high, but I just kept looking at the shadows on the wall. They flicker in a way that feels like a mistake, or maybe just old film stock doing its thing. It felt more honest than a perfectly polished studio film.
Don't look for deep meaning here. It is just a story about a girl, a boy, and a bunch of creatures who don't know they are in a movie. It's a nice little relic. 🐒✨
IMDb 4.8
1913
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