Producer Eric Goode’s latest documentary series examines the long-standing feud between two prominent illegal reptile traders.
Key facts
- •Monsters of God is based on the 2008 book The Lizard King by Bryan Christy.
- •Tommy Crutchfield claimed to have sold white albino alligators for £175,000 each.
- •The series features the story of a German collaborator who attempted to flee federal agents while handcuffed.
- •The final episode focuses on the impact of smuggling on the ploughshare tortoise, which became nearly extinct in the wild.
- •Producer Eric Goode previously directed the series Chimp Crazy.
Monsters of God, a new documentary series from producer Eric Goode, explores the illicit global reptile trade. The series focuses on the rivalry between traders Hank Molt and Tommy Crutchfield, tracing their history from the late 1960s through their eventual legal entanglements. It is a co-production between Goode Films, HBO, and A24, inspired by the 2008 book The Lizard King by journalist Bryan Christy.
The Rivalry and the Trade
The series details the contentious relationship between Molt and Crutchfield, highlighting their mutual animosity and unconventional backgrounds. While Molt was a former mayonnaise salesman, Crutchfield worked at a Florida establishment called Snake-a-Torium. The documentary explores how these men and others operated within a wildlife trading market that often ignored the origins of the animals, even as environmental awareness grew in the late 1960s.
Legal Issues and Global Impact
Both men faced significant legal scrutiny during their careers. Molt was arrested after burying animals in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens, while Crutchfield’s activities included supplying animals for Hollywood productions and selling tortoises to Michael Jackson. The series also examines the broader consequences of this trade, including the near-extinction of the ploughshare tortoise in the wild due to smuggling operations linked to dealers like Malaysia’s Anson Wong.
Series Structure and Reception
Spanning five episodes, the series covers various anecdotes from the illicit animal market, including tangents involving the drug trade and federal sting operations. While the first episode highlights the culmination of the feud between Molt and Crutchfield, subsequent episodes expand to include a wide array of characters and stories from the global smuggling network.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Guardian Culture.
