Rodents of Unusual Size

"Rodents of Unusual Size" is a documentary about the nutria infestation of Louisiana. It seems in the 1930s, the huge rodents were brought to the state to create a fur industry. It seems back in the day, nutria fur coats were the rage. However, sometime after their arrival to fur farms, some escaped and being horny critters, they bred like...um...nutrias! Soon the state was covered in the animals...which wasn't so bad until the fur industry crashed and burned because of changing times and attitudes about fur. Now, there was very little to keep them in check so the Louisiana government has taken to putting a $5 bounty on them. Additionally, some have taken to eating the apparently disgusting but delicious creatures. While the film didn't say it, I also know that the state was sending out mini cookbooks filled with nutria recipes!

This documentary is definitely pro-hunting....and considering what a nuisance they are (they cause severe damage to the canals and swamps), it makes sense. I am sure some folks might get offended by this and the suggestion that they start using nutria fur again...though they kill the critters anyway and making coats and the like from them certainly makes sense to me.

Overall, a surprisingly interesting film...one that kept my interest throughout.

Who wouldn't love seeing giant swamp rats? The camera work and editing of this film is amazing, a pleasure to watch, over and over (personally I watching it over 20 times), so many details to think about, costal erosion, cajun culture, native Americans ..... this film has it all! Well done, Jeff, Quinn and Chris, well done!

The documentary covers the history of the importation of nutria to Louisiana as a competitor to muskrats in the once-popular fur trade, and of its ecological consequences to humans.

Before seeing this film, I didn't quite know what to expect. But I was almost immediately blown away by how spectacular it proved to be. Not only is the filmography and editing visually stunning and beautifully executed but the story and characters are refreshingly unique and weave a captivating tale. I was transported into Louisiana and truly had a feel for the lives and culture of the area. Through the consistent theme of the nutria, this film was truly enlightening and entertaining. Touching upon so many unexpected topics such as fashion, cuisine, history, environmental issues, sports, and many more, Rodents of Unusual Size was extensively researched, informative, but most of all, enjoyable. The viewer meets so many complex and likable people with real stories that were relatable while also paradoxically being so foreign. Through their tales (again, mostly centered around nutria in various fascinating ways), the viewer has the pleasure of truly feeling connected and yearning for more. I feel as if I am so much more informed of an entire culture, both with positives and negatives, that I wasn't even aware existed, which is a thrilling sensation. When I noticed the film was almost over, I had two urges: the first was to restart it because I hadn't yet had enough of this fantastic film. The second was to immediately hop on a plane to Louisiana.

Rodents of Unusual Size is part zoology lesson, part environmental impact statement, part unflinching look into the recklessness and resiliency of human nature, with a bit of horror film mixed in. Beautifully filmed in the swamplands of Louisiana, Rodents is so engaging that it was even hard for me to look away during a few gory scenes. And I am someone who goes to great lengths to avoid walking past the butcher case in a supermarket. Watch this film! It's a story you aren't likely to hear about anywhere else.