Tired of watching the world circling the drain? Would you like to smile for 108 minutes? Then trust me, drop everything and watch Hundreds Of Beavers now! This low-budget indie instant classic marks the feature directorial debut of Mike Cheslik who spent four years making it, including over 1500 effects shots in freezing temperatures in Wisconsin and Michigan. Remember that name.
But wait! There’s more! The story of Jean Kayak (co-writer and producer Ryland Brickson Cole Tews), a drunken Applejack salesman who goes on an epic journey across the frozen tundra to hunt and kill the aforementioned beavers in order to win over a strong-willed Furrier (Olivia Graves), is told in black and white with almost no dialogue. Although such influences as Looney Tunes, Buster Keaton, and the surreal films of Canadian legend Guy Madden shine through, this live action/animated hybrid remains in a class of its own.
Tews invites comparisons to the client era greats such as Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd and holds his own with his bumbling, idiotic, yet crafty hunter. Despite facing one obstacle after another, much in the style of an anvil dropping on the Coyote as he chases down the Roadrunner, he always bounces back and stays true to his mission. The beavers, along with assorted rabbits, wolves and raccoons, all appear as actors in mascot costumes. It looks like the world’s largest furry convention as we watch the animals build dams, evade traps, and ultimately concoct a hilariously unexplained science-fiction project.
At first, I thought this could have easily been a ten-minute short, but the grand scale of it all won me over as the filmmakers consistently raised the stakes and the mayhem factor. Every time Jean gets his tongue stuck on an object, a hook plunged through his hand, or a sudden icicle formed when he exhales, I had a terrible case of the tee-hees. You’ll witness literally dozens of whiz-bang scenes with every single shot having something interesting and unexpected happening somewhere in the frame.
As Jean kills various creatures, he frequently takes them to a Trading Post headed up by a Merchant (Doug Mancheski) who hilariously chews tobacco and fails to land it in a cup. This recurring motif, just like the rest in the film, finds a hilarious payoff by the end. His daughter, the previously mentioned Furrier, takes a liking to Jean even while slicing apart his dead animals. Their relationship becomes the beating heart of the film. You root for this pair as Jean trades his pelts for hunting tools which often lead to disastrous consequences. His stabs at building fires, fishing, and creating traps feel operatic with this film’s extended run time.
If you’re a fan of shirtless bearded hunks, you’ve also come to the right place. In the real world, Jean would have succumbed to frostbite, but here, his lovely exposed bod feels more feature than bug. Sure, it’s titillating, but it also enhances the comedy. By the time he’s completely naked with his private parts strategically blocked by assorted objects, you’ve entered Austin Powers territory.
I can’t say enough about the creative work on display. Cheslik expertly layers practical shots with all manner of animated work, perfectly supported by a wonderful score by Chris Ryan. Everything zips along breathlessly thanks to Cheslik’s sense of pacing as he acts as his own editor. Quinn Hester’s cinematography at first seems quite classic and simple, but as the mayhem intensifies, my jaw dropped. You just can’t believe what you’re seeing here.
Sure, all told, we’re cheering on as one man tries to slaughter literally hundreds of woodland critters, but it’s hard to be too put out when his prey all have zippers! I might have suggested cutting out 10-15 minutes, but when you have a movie titled Hundreds Of Beavers, size matters! So take a break from the real world and let the brilliant Cheslik and Tews transport you to your happy place.
By Glenn Gaylord, Senior Film Critic
As its national theatrical tour continues, Hundreds Of Beavers is now available for rental and purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV through FilmHub with other major TVOD platforms to follow. It will also be available as an SVOD exclusive on Fandor beginning Friday, April 19th.
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