The Beaver (film)

The Beaver is a 2011 psychological drama film directed by Jodie Foster and written by Kyle Killen. It stars Mel Gibson as Walter Black, a depressed CEO of a toy company who finds solace and a means of communication through a beaver hand puppet.

The film explores themes of depression, mental illness, and family dysfunction. Walter's increasingly bizarre reliance on the puppet as his sole means of expression puts a strain on his marriage to Meredith (Jodie Foster) and negatively impacts his relationship with his two sons, Porter (Anton Yelchin) and Henry (Riley Thomas Stewart). Porter, in particular, struggles to distance himself from his father's troubled nature and to avoid succumbing to similar tendencies.

The film received mixed reviews upon release. While some critics praised the performances, particularly Gibson's, others criticized the film's premise and its handling of sensitive subject matter. The Beaver was also notable for its limited theatrical release due to controversies surrounding Mel Gibson at the time. The film's box office performance was considered a failure.