Where to watch Zoo, one of the most controversial documentaries ever made

Horse on Zoo poster.

Zoo is a documentary that received both acclaim and disdain when it hit screens in 2007, but if you want to see what all the fuss is about, there’s only one way to watch it. Warning: some may find this content distressing.

The controversial documentary is about bestiality, with the title a reference to “zoophile,” which is a person who is sexually attracted to animals.

Zoo revolves around the 2005 death of Kenneth D. Pinyan, who was killed through having intercourse with a horse.

The movie veers into true crime territory, and delves into the dark subculture that engages in such activities, as well as how the internet played a major role in bringing these people together.

The only way to watch Zoo is on DVD

Man holding a horse in the documentary Zoo.

Zoo isn’t currently available on any streamer, so the best way to watch the movie is on DVD. The Region 1 version hit shelves in 2007 courtesy of Image Entertainment, while the Region 2 DVD was released by Revolver Entertainment in 2008. Both can be purchased from Amazon.

There’s also a version of the movie that’s free to watch on YouTube, but that doesn’t appear to be official, so could be taken down at any time.

If you’re wondering whether to watch a movie about such a shocking subject, Zoo received acclaim from multiple quarters when it was released.

The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and was presented at the Director’s Fortnight sidebar at the Cannes Film Festival.

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Zoo currently has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 60%, with critics praising director Robinson Devor’s respectful approach to the material, and the film’s lack of sensationalism.

The LA Times called it “an elegant, eerily lyrical film.” IndieWire said Zoo was “one of the most beautiful films of the year.”

The Guardian wrote: “This can only be described as a docu-drama meditation, an insistently elusive cinematic poem that takes the most brutal and shocking and bizarre subject and turns it into something that – though hardly subtle exactly – is intriguing and indirect.”

For more real-world content, these are the best documentaries streaming this month, while you can also check out the most shocking docs on Netflix and the creepiest YouTube docs to watch right now.