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6.1/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.1/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Bedlam of Beards remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a soft spot for grainy, high-energy slapstick from the early days of comedy, you might get a kick out of Bedlam of Beards. It is short, dumb, and doesn't ask much of your brain.
However, if you need a coherent plot or characters who act like actual human beings, stay far away. You will likely hate this if you prefer your movies to have a shred of logic or anything resembling a modern pacing style.
The whole premise is just an excuse to see people trip over themselves while wearing itchy-looking prop beards. It feels like a sketch that accidentally got stretched out a few minutes too long. 🧔
It’s honestly impressive—and kind of gross—how much fake hair is on screen at once. There’s a specific scene where the confusion hits its peak, and I swear the actors are having a hard time keeping a straight face while their glue starts peeling off.
The pacing is absolute madness. It reminds me a bit of the chaotic energy in Rasslin' Round, where the logic is secondary to just keeping the screen moving.
It’s not a masterpiece, and it certainly won't win any awards for storytelling. Sometimes the camera lingers on a prop beard for way too long, making the whole thing feel strangely awkward.
The film isn't trying to be a deep dive into the human condition like Le chiffonnier de Paris or anything serious. It’s just a bunch of people running around in a panic, and sometimes that’s enough for a rainy afternoon.
I caught myself checking the runtime because, let’s be honest, there are only so many beard jokes a person can take before the novelty wears off. Still, it’s a weird little relic of a time when this kind of frantic, physical comedy was king.
Don't look for meaning. There isn't any. Just watch the fake hair fly. ✂️