You are here:

The Tiger Next Door

Name: The Tiger Next Door
Director: Camilla Calamandrei
Released: 2009
Duration: 86 min

Representation Score

3.2/10

Limited

2009

TV-MA

Director

Camilla Calamandrei

Runtime

86 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The documentary is a narrow character study centered on Dennis Hill's singular, obsessive vocation. Because the film prioritizes observational realism regarding a niche subculture, it lacks the demographic diversity needed for high diversity scores. The narrative structure relies heavily on a traditional masculine archetype. This focus on a solitary male protagonist results in a lack of gendered power dynamics or female representation. Ultimately, the film functions as a localized study of an individual's struggle against regulatory changes. It does not engage with multi-layered identities or broader social critiques.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Tiger Next Door have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses entirely on Dennis Hill's obsession with exotic animals. There are no LGBTQ+ characters or stories about non-straight identities.

How does The Tiger Next Door portray gender?

Fair

The story centers on a solitary male experience. It explores a type of traditional masculinity characterized by isolation and control over nature, with no significant female roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Tiger Next Door?

Minimal

The film appears to be a localized study of a specific individual in Indiana. It lacks a multi-ethnic cast or evidence of diverse casting.

How does The Tiger Next Door represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story depicts a conflict between personal freedom and government rules. It functions as a character study rather than a critique of broader social or religious institutions.

Does The Tiger Next Door include disability representation?

Minimal

No characters with visible or invisible disabilities are shown taking a leading role. The narrative focuses solely on the protagonist's psychological drive regarding his animals.

Present on Screen

Provides a deep, observational look into a specific, niche subculture and individual obsession.

Limited or Absent

Lacks demographic breadth and diverse representation.
Features a narrow focus on a traditional masculine archetype.
Provides almost no representation of female roles or diverse identities.

Official Synopsis

The Tiger Next Door is a documentary film that tells the story of a man named Dennis Hill who has been breeding, and selling tigers from his backyard in Flat Rock, Indiana for over fifteen years. Tigers, and other big cats, are simultaneously an occupation and an obsession for Hill. As the film begins, Hill has 24 tigers, 3 bears, 6 leopards and one cougar. He claims to know exactly what they are thinking by the look in their eyes. He is especially consumed with the prospect of breeding a stripeless white tiger. But now, after a surprise government inspection, he’s lost the license that allowed him to keep exotic animals, and the state of Indiana is threatening to shut him down. He has just five days to find alternate homes for all but three of his brood and to bring his facilities up to code – or else lose what he considers to be his life’s work.

How are these scores produced? →