Rodents of Unusual Size

2017
1h 11m

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

213

YOUR RATING

Hard headed Louisiana fisherman Thomas Gonzales doesn't know what will hit him next. After decades of hurricanes and oil spills he faces a new threat - hordes of monstrous 20 pound swamp rats. Known as "nutria", these invasive South American rodents breed faster than the roving squads of hunters can control them. And with their orange teeth and voracious appetite they are eating up the coastal wetlands that protects Thomas and his town of Delacroix Island from hurricanes. But the people who have lived here for generations are not the type of folks who will give up without a fight. Thomas and a pack of lively bounty hunters are hellbent on saving Louisiana before it dissolves beneath their feet. It is man vs. rodent. May the best mammal win.

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Documentary

A story about giant swamp rats invading coastal Louisiana and the defiant people on the edge of the world, who are defending their communities, culture, and livelihoods from the onslaught of... Read allA story about giant swamp rats invading coastal Louisiana and the defiant people on the edge of the world, who are defending their communities, culture, and livelihoods from the onslaught of this curious and unexpected invasive species.A story about giant swamp rats invading coastal Louisiana and the defiant people on the edge of the world, who are defending their communities, culture, and livelihoods from the onslaught of this curious and unexpected invasive species.

Directors
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

213

YOUR RATING

Directors
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 16 wins & 4 nominations total

User reviews9

7.0213

Featured reviews

10megnotyourtype

Just watch the dang thing!

Rodents of Unusual Size is a fantastic documentary that captures the spirit and resilience of the people living in the Louisiana bayou. Part environmental film, part human character study, ROUS presents the challenges of a community rallying for their land against a thriving invasive species. The filmmakers approach the topic and subjects with a wonderful balance of humor and heart, you can't help but fall in love with this community and simultaneously question your ethics.

10evharms

Quirky Nature Film

ROUS is a whimsical, quirky approach to the story of invasive species, something that can be really dry and boring to learn about. The film's human subjects are larger than life with fascinating stories, and the film weaves them together in an unforgettable story of people, animals, and culture.

10beran-michael

Amazing to watch!

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!

10jiffyxpop

Thought-provoking documentary on Man vs Nutria

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.

10solds-27825

Smart and Fun Documentary

Rodents of Unusual Size was a fun and engaging documentary with beautiful filmography. It captures Louisiana culture and its people beautifully through the entertaining lens of a giant rodent. It was everything I expected from a well produced documentary, but what engaged me the most was the way it exposed the particular moral dilemmas of nutria in Louisiana in a way that can be applied to broader conflicts. Just one example: why do people, and often wealthy people, tend to treat these animals like pets and protect them when they are in fact destroying the very land they live on? The filmmakers did a great job of portraying multiple sides of an argument with respect and allowing the audience to come to their own conclusions. Would love to see more films from them!