Mikes Film Talk

Chimp Crazy is the latest iteration of “Tiger King” and this is all going to end in tears. Regardless of whether Tonka is “found” or not. Look at all the horror stories about domiciled chimpanzees.

Fiction

Jordan Peele uses the real life story of Travis and Buck, the two chimps who attacked people, in Nope. In the film, the chimpanzee in the television show freaks out on camera. In Nope, the Gordy show is filmed before a live studio audience. “Gordy” severely injures someone on set.

Therefore actors, technicians and audience are all traumatized. Here, Peele blends the two stories together for dramatic effect. Somewhat amazingly, the real stories are far worse than the fictional tale.

Fact

Travis:

A woman raises a chimp named Travis. After Travis grows up and becomes a 200 pound version of the little tyke his owner brings home, he gets unruly. Eventually he snaps and eats the face off of a lady friend. Travis also rips the woman’s hands off.

*Fiction: This fact is mentioned as a throwaway line in a 2024 film. “After that chimp ate a woman’s face off, we can’t own them as pets anymore. (sic)*

Charla Nash, the victim, was attacked back in 2009.

Buck:

Another cutie pie. Raised from a baby by one woman. Buck reaches adulthood. Another 200 pounds plus animal with a bad attitude. He attacks and savages his owner’s daughter.

Fact Part II

Both animals are exterminated after their attack. Only, however, after each chimp destroys at least two people’s lives. This does not include the owners with their various resultant end trauma.

Chimp Crazy starts out about one “monkey dealer” and ends on another; Tonia Haddix. Haddix is keeping Tonka, a chimp with a special connection to actor Alan Cumming.

Cumming worked with Tonka on the 1997 film Buddy. The two formed a very special bond and the actor never forgot the special chimp.

Fast Forward a lot of years and Alan learns that the chimp Tonka lives with Haddix. A woman who is not adverse to lying under oath. An animal lover who is delusional and not a little dangerous (to the animals she houses).

Cumming’s offers a $10,000 award for information about his old pal. He joins forces with Peta, an organization that he has supported for years.

Fact Part III

Tonka has been found. Haddix has been hiding the animal throughout the whole documentary thus far. Thumbing her nose at the legal arena. Next week’s “Tiger King” episode: Fantasy Island, the finale of the program, will reveal what angering a judge and Peta have in common.

I would hazard a guess and say that both will be enraged enough to throw the proverbial book at Haddix. Whilst awaiting the aftermath of, at the very least, committing perjury and wasting the authorities time and money, we can only wonder why.

What prompts people like Haddix to believe that they are above the law?Answers on a postcard please.