While the landfill of straight-to-video flicks that depend on a silly name grows steadily every month, Zombeavers (as screened at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival) actually has some great things going for it. Besides the title (which c’mon, you have to admit is a fun play on words), the horror-comedy is remarkably self-aware and well-executed. It doesn’t just make a farce of its genre tropes, it displays an actual love and understanding for them, while flexing some refined comedy chops. Don’t dismiss this buck-toothed bad boy as just another Sharknado, whoa no. Zombeavers actually delivers the goods.

It’s a cabin in the woods bikini bloodbath, but what the hell else are you expecting? After a barrel of toxic waste finds its way into a quaint lake, the resident beavers are transformed into bloodthirsty rodents hellbent for wood. There’s not much more to the plot than this, but writer-director Jordan Rubin and writers Al and Jon Kaplan manage to squeeze a lot of wit and engagement out of its simplicity. The short running time (75 minutes or so) is filled with silly scares, goofy beaver puppets, gore, and genuinely funny dialogue. About halfway through I was shocked how much of a good time I was having.

Rubin has a ton of experience in TV comedy writing (The Man Show, Craig Kilborn) and his ability to construct a solid and funny script is on full display. The comedy beats, the dialogue, the satire, it all works really, really well. Many of these small monster satires are made by unprofessional hacks who think tits, blood, and a marginally clever title make a good horror-comedy. They’re dead wrong. Zombeavers actually marries its concept, execution, and love of its predecessors into a coherent, entertaining film. Its title may be pure silliness, but it takes it silliness very serious, while always remaining aware how goddamn silly it all is.

A lot of these movies also have a cast I want to throttle within the first five minutes, but not the case here. The young cast is devoid of the overly obnoxious types that are entirely unbelievable as friends. The kids in Zombeavers actually seem like they’d hang out (though there is a lover’s spat causing a rift in their little group). The film is bookended with hysterical bits by Bill Burr and John Mayer (yes that John Mayer, making his acting debut) as the schlubs driving the truck the toxic waste barrel falls from. There are some amazing lines during those parts (especially if you’re a fan of Arby’s).

Zombeavers may not bring anything new to the table, but it packs a few surprises and it’s all executed very well. Unlike many of its ilk, you won’t feel like you’ve killed a few hundred brain cells by the end of it. Funny, bloody, silly, and quotable, this one’s definitely going to be a party movie for years to come.