Roar Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A naturalist invites his estranged family to his house ruled by aggressive lions and tigers, and wouldn’t you know it, things get a little… bitey.

🍿 Roar: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Naturalist and His Wild Family

Hank, an American naturalist living in East Africa, shares his home and expansive preserve with a large pride of big cats and other wild animals. He believes humans and these magnificent creatures can coexist peacefully without barriers. He eagerly anticipates a visit from his estranged family: wife Madelaine and their children, Melanie, John, and Jerry, who are flying in from Chicago after years apart.

Arrival at the Sanctuary

Due to a miscommunication, Hank is not at the airport when his family arrives. Madelaine and the children make their way to his remote compound on their own. Upon arrival, they discover Hank’s house is completely open to the roaming animals he lives with—dozens of lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, and elephants. They are immediately thrust into a terrifying situation, navigating the unfamiliar and seemingly chaotic environment filled with potentially dangerous predators.

Survival Against the Odds

Trapped inside the house or hiding on the property, the family struggles to survive the animals’ unpredictable behavior. They are chased, pounced on, wrestled, and intimidated by the big cats, who seem to oscillate between playful curiosity and aggressive dominance. Their attempts to find safety or escape are constantly thwarted by the sheer number and size of the animals surrounding them. Meanwhile, Hank faces his own challenges trying to return home, unaware of the perilous situation his family is in.

Threat from Poachers

Adding to the danger, a group of local poachers views Hank’s preserve as a target. These hunters represent a direct threat to the animals Hank is trying to protect. Their presence adds another layer of conflict, highlighting the external dangers faced by the wildlife, even within a sanctuary.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Hank (Noel Marshall): A passionate naturalist dedicated to living among and protecting big cats, whose family’s visit turns perilous.
• Madelaine (Tippi Hedren): The estranged wife and mother who arrives with her children expecting a peaceful visit but finds herself terrorized by wild animals.
• Melanie (Melanie Griffith): The daughter who, along with her mother and brothers, must survive terrifying encounters with untamed big cats in her father’s home.
• John (John Marshall): One of Hank’s sons who faces direct danger and physical confrontations while trapped in the house with the wild animals.
• Jerry (Jerry Marshall): Hank’s other son who experiences the constant threat and chaos caused by the numerous big cats surrounding the family.
• Mativo (Kyalo Mativo): Hank’s loyal friend and helper who assists him and later becomes caught in the dangerous situation with the family.
• Prentiss (Steve Miller): A big game poacher who represents an external human threat to Hank and his animal sanctuary.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Hank: “It’s just playing, I’m tellin’ ya!” – Hank insists the aggressive behavior of the lions towards his family is merely playful interaction, highlighting his dangerous perspective.
• Mativo: “This is a madhouse.” – Mativo, a local man, reacts with disbelief and fear upon witnessing the sheer number and uncontrolled behavior of the big cats roaming the house.
• Madelaine: “Oh God! Look what the cat dragged in!” – Madelaine exclaims in shock upon seeing a large lion entering the house, underscoring the chaotic and surreal situation.
• Hank: “It’s only a scratch.” – Hank downplays a serious injury he sustained from a lion, reflecting his extreme tolerance for risk and connection to the animals.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $17,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $110,048
• Worldwide Gross: $110,449

💥 Roar Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, wow. I’d heard the stories about ‘Roar’ and its legendary dangerous production, but actually watching it is a whole other level of wild. I went in knowing people got hurt, and that knowledge hung over every single frame like a thundercloud. There were moments where I genuinely felt stressed watching the actors, especially Tippi Hedren and Melanie Griffith, just being surrounded, pawed at, and chased by these enormous, unpredictable cats. Like the scene where they’re hiding in the house and lions are just trashing the place – you know that’s real! My jaw dropped multiple times, not because the plot was gripping (it’s barely there), but because the sheer chaos unfolding was so unscripted and terrifyingly authentic. It’s less a movie, more a ‘found footage’ of a family attempting to survive a petting zoo gone horrifically wrong. Honestly, it’s hard to call it a *good* movie in the traditional sense – the acting is secondary to surviving the scene, and the structure is messy. But as a pure, unbelievable cinematic spectacle? It’s unlike anything else I’ve ever seen. It makes you think about filmmaking ethics, animal welfare, and what kind of wild dream could possess someone to put their family in that much danger for a movie. Definitely a must-see, but maybe watch it from behind a pillow.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of unique and controversial filmmaking”
  • “Viewers interested in behind-the-scenes stories and production challenges”
  • “People fascinated by big cats and wildlife (with caution regarding safety)”
  • “Cult film enthusiasts”
  • “Those interested in Tippi Hedren and Melanie Griffith’s early careers”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Scenes depicting real animal attacks and human injuries”
  • “Potentially disturbing interactions between humans and wild animals”
  • “Intense and chaotic sequences”
  • “Animal-related violence (implied, though film claims no animals were harmed, reviews note real animal fights)”

Professional Reviews

• Provided Review Text: “This film is less a movie and more a jaw-dropping document of sheer insanity. Watching real people, including family members, interact dangerously with untamed big cats creates an unnerving, one-of-a-kind experience. While the plot is nonexistent and acting often secondary to survival, the raw footage of predators roaming freely is undeniably captivating, if ethically questionable. It’s infamous for the extensive injuries sustained during its lengthy, troubled production, turning every chaotic scene into a tense ‘wait, is someone getting mauled right now?’ guessing game. Not a narrative masterpiece, but an unforgettable, bizarre achievement in reckless filmmaking.
• Provided Review Text: “Dismissing the narrative entirely might be wise, as ‘Roar’ exists primarily as a testament to incredibly ill-advised ambition. A family arrives expecting a visit, only to be plunged into a chaotic free-for-all with dozens of big cats in a flimsy house. The film oscillates wildly between attempts at comedy, thriller, and conservation message, never quite landing on any, but the genuine terror and physical interactions with the animals are utterly compelling. It’s a film more famous for its production lore (70+ injuries!) than its quality, making it essential viewing for cinephiles seeking cinematic oddities. A truly madcap endeavor.
• Provided Review Text: “‘Roar’ is a confounding experience. On one hand, it’s a passionate, if misguided, plea for wildlife conservation showcasing stunning animals up close. On the other, it’s an ethically dubious vanity project that subjected its cast and crew, many of whom were family, to horrifying risks. The ‘story’ is thin, serving mostly as an excuse to film humans getting chased and roughhoused by lions. While some find its raw, unsimulated danger thrilling and even funny in its absurdity, others see only irresponsibility and animal exploitation. It’s a film that sparks debate, leaving viewers astonished regardless of their final judgment.

Audience Reactions

Viewers were consistently stunned by the real, unsimulated danger involving numerous big cats.: The film is unlike anything else ever made, offering a unique, often terrifying, glimpse into human-animal interaction, despite its flaws.

Many viewers felt intense tension and disbelief knowing the production’s history of injuries.: While lacking a strong plot, the film’s raw spectacle of real animals and the bizarre, chaotic events provide unexpected entertainment and make it a cult curiosity.

Overall Consensus: ‘Roar’ is widely regarded as one of the most dangerously made films in history, less a conventional movie than a shocking, chaotic, and ethically questionable spectacle featuring real big cats interacting with its cast and crew. Its minimal plot is overshadowed by the documented peril of its production, making it a fascinating, if disturbing, cult film curiosity.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film took 11 years to complete due to numerous production setbacks, including floods, fires, disease, and injuries.”
• “Over 70 cast and crew members were injured by the animals during filming, including star/director Noel Marshall, Tippi Hedren, Melanie Griffith, and cinematographer Jan de Bont.”
• “Cinematographer Jan de Bont was partially scalped by a lion and required over 200 stitches.”
• “Melanie Griffith was mauled by a lion and required facial reconstructive surgery.”
• “Star and director Noel Marshall financed the film himself, reportedly selling four houses to fund the $17 million production.”
• “The opening credits state that because the animals chose to do as they wished, they share writing and directing credits.”
• “One of the lead lions, Togar, was previously owned by Anton LaVey, the founder of the Church of Satan.”
• “Tippi Hedren, who starred in the film, became a devoted animal rights activist after the production and established the Shambala Preserve, where the movie was filmed.”

🖥️ How to Watch Roar?

As a cult classic known for its unique production history, finding ‘Roar’ on major streaming platforms can vary. It is often available for rent or purchase digitally through services like Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. Physical copies on Blu-ray and DVD are also available for purchase from retailers like Amazon, often featuring extra content about its notorious production. Availability on subscription streaming services may change, so it’s best to search current listings on platforms like Tubi, Pluto TV, or specialty streamers like Shudder or Mubi, as it sometimes appears on these services.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Roar, you might like these similar films:

• Born Free (1966): A pioneering film about humans raising and living with lions in Africa, sharing the theme of close human-animal bonds, though ‘Roar’ depicts a much more chaotic and dangerous reality.
• Grizzly Man (2005): A documentary about Timothy Treadwell, a man obsessed with living among grizzly bears, sharing the thematic exploration of a human pushing dangerous boundaries with wild predators and the tragic consequences.
• Fitzcarraldo (1982): A film notorious for its extremely difficult and dangerous production in remote locations, often putting the cast and crew at risk, paralleling ‘Roar’s legendary behind-the-scenes turmoil.
• Tiger King (2020): A documentary series exploring the bizarre and dangerous world of private exotic animal owners in the US, sharing themes of controversial human-big cat interactions, legal issues, and eccentric personalities.
• Miami Connection (1987): A cult classic re-released by the same distributor as ‘Roar’ (Drafthouse Films), known for its unique blend of amateurish charm, unexpected moments, and a behind-the-scenes story almost as wild as the movie itself, appealing to fans of unusual cinema.

🛒 Roar Related Products

• Roar Blu-ray (Drafthouse Films Collector’s Edition): Experience the most dangerous movie ever made in stunning high definition with bonus features that delve into the film’s infamous production history, including interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.
• Tippi Hedren: The Birds and Beyond (Book): Tippi Hedren’s memoir offers personal insights into her life, including the harrowing making of ‘Roar’ and her lifelong dedication to big cat conservation, providing crucial context to the film.
• Big Cat Diary (BBC/Discovery Documentary Series): A critically acclaimed documentary series offering a safe, educational, and captivating look at the lives of lions, leopards, and cheetahs in their natural habitat, providing a stark contrast to ‘Roar’s approach.
• Wildlife Conservation Donation (WWF or similar): Support organizations dedicated to protecting endangered big cats and their habitats worldwide. Directly contributes to the conservation message central to ‘Roar’.

🎧 Soundtrack

Roar features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Orchestral Score (Symphonic Contributions)” – performed by Terence P. Minogue
• “Song: Hey, Isn’t It Time” – performed by Robert Hawk
• “Song: This Is My Land” – performed by Robert Hawk
• “Togar’s Theme” – performed by Dominic Frontiere

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Bad Movie Review: Roar (Starring Tippi Hedren and Melanie Griffith)

Ever heard of *Roar*, the movie dubbed the ‘most dangerous ever made’? This review dives into why that’s the case, and honestly, the stories are insane.

Lion Expert Rates 9 Big-Cat Attacks In Movies | How Real Is It? | Insider

How realistic were the animal encounters in *Roar*? Get an expert’s take as a lion biologist rates scenes from various movies, including this one – the results are pretty eye-opening!

✨ Rate