Not at all horror but I can absolutely see why Terror-Fi festival included it. This is by far the silliest movie I have ever seen, and I mean that as a high compliment. I thought No One Will Save You would be the most wordless movie I would see this year, but I was wrong. There are about 3 actual words uttered in this one. Content warning - Hundreds of animals die in this one but every animal is either a person in a costume or a plushy puppet so you'll be alright. When you first start this very entertaining live action looney tunes movie you will wonder how they can sustain it for a full feature length run time but they absolutely manage it and it's always hilarious and entertaining.
27 Reviews
Hundreds of Beavers
baileybap20 March 2024
A black and white, essentially silent film has never been this much fun, nor has it been crafted with such exuberant adolescent heart, yet Hundreds of Beavers channels all of its ambitious, lo-fi energy into one of the most exhilarating gut-busting films I've seen in quite some time. Scrabbled together with no money, six beaver costumes, and spare time with friends Mike Cheslik creates a Looney-Tunes-level physical comedy romp, enlisting endless sight gags and simple plot mechanics that only get bigger, better, and sillier. The one-note story of an applejack farmer becoming a master beaver hunter gets elevated by revenge, romance, and subtle intelligence, leading to a climax full of payoffs that have been carefully placed throughout its runtime, amplifying Hundreds of Beavers' ability and soul. While the film isn't necessarily an emotional one, I found myself moved, if not for the characters than for the filmmaking. With no studio backing or theatrical distribution, Hundreds of Beavers has nothing to leverage and nothing to sacrifice, it's inherently itself through and through to the very end. Doing so, it soars to such great giddy heights that it's unwaveringly momentous that so much imagination still exists and proves there's still so much more to make, a true testament to the power of visual storytelling.
Taking all the best elements of old school cartoons, with a hint of video-game logic, and out of it constructing one of the best slapstick comedy flick in the last decade
HankCoT2 April 2024
There are so many great old-school type gags running past the screen at full tilt, built-on or even combined in ways that I never saw coming, encouraging multiple viewings (which I will gladly do with giddy enthusiasm).
This flick is like a combination of the best classic cartoon skits, all mooched together, added with a hint of video-game logic, then stretched out into a full length feature, and somehow nailing it. With barely any downtime, it keeps upping the ante, getting more and more zany, yet always with a focused eye on the narrative. Not to mention, for such a small budget they really got the animated style down, with prefect settings or simple but effective tools, such as goofy costumes and multiple humorous props.
One of the most fun theatre experience I've had in quite a long time, the audience belly laughing the whole was trough.
This flick is like a combination of the best classic cartoon skits, all mooched together, added with a hint of video-game logic, then stretched out into a full length feature, and somehow nailing it. With barely any downtime, it keeps upping the ante, getting more and more zany, yet always with a focused eye on the narrative. Not to mention, for such a small budget they really got the animated style down, with prefect settings or simple but effective tools, such as goofy costumes and multiple humorous props.
One of the most fun theatre experience I've had in quite a long time, the audience belly laughing the whole was trough.
Unbelievable
eiemdibi29 January 2024
Before seeing the movie at the Hamburg Fantasy Filmfest, I wondered how an hour and a half of playtime can be filled with the ideas in the trailer without getting slow or tedious. Now I actually wonder when it was the last time I laughed that much through a whole movie.
While delivering a consistent, smart, reduced and extremely efficient visual syle, the presentation doesn't let your focus away for one second, otherwise you might miss something funny. The way it symbolizes, repeats and develops the events by smart iteration in a limited universe ist ist excellent!
I highly recommend seeing it. Not for small kids.
While delivering a consistent, smart, reduced and extremely efficient visual syle, the presentation doesn't let your focus away for one second, otherwise you might miss something funny. The way it symbolizes, repeats and develops the events by smart iteration in a limited universe ist ist excellent!
I highly recommend seeing it. Not for small kids.
A must watch for comedy lovers!
gabekirk-456193 February 2024
The most entertaining movie I have seen in years! I watched it in Columbus, Ohio. It is like Wiley Coyote meets Oregon Trail. Tons of gratuitous beaver violence. I highly recommend for anyone with an old fashioned sense of humour!
The originality of the creators and the performances of the very small principal cast make the film a must watch for 2024. The dark slapstick humor of the film is a welcome cinematic inclusion for viewers tired of preachy political movies.
Hundreds of Beavers is an example of what a dedicated group of independent filmmakers are capable of doing on a shoestring budget. Mark my words: this movie will be watched in college dorms for decades to come!
The originality of the creators and the performances of the very small principal cast make the film a must watch for 2024. The dark slapstick humor of the film is a welcome cinematic inclusion for viewers tired of preachy political movies.
Hundreds of Beavers is an example of what a dedicated group of independent filmmakers are capable of doing on a shoestring budget. Mark my words: this movie will be watched in college dorms for decades to come!
It was goofy movie
jayrcoughlin9 March 2023
For being a mostly not spoken film it to rely on visual gags is difficult. The film was also great for its visual appeal that captures when the film is set in. It also kept me entertained for the 1hr and 47 minute run time. The film is also packed full of references of video games and television which are sometimes hard to pick up. I loved seeing it in the theater because there was something for everyone to laugh at. This film took 4 years of dedication 15000 composited shots which is a lot but also for a small film like this one. The performance of all the characters was great with the cartoony nature of all of them.
Fantastic
gbill-748772 May 2024
Creative and very entertaining. Its wild slapstick draws from Looney Tunes and silent movies, but it also feels highly original. It seems like it will wear thin, but the antics get funnier as it goes along, helped considerably by Cheslik's great sense of pace and use of misdirection. It's all "cartoon violence," but some of the deaths are delightfully grisly - and somehow acceptable, even though it's depicting the odious act of animal trapping. You even have Olivia Graves in a role reminiscent of Red Hot Riding Hood. Love the homage, love the update to the form; somewhere Tex Avery and Chuck Jones must be smiling.
This is a Wild Ride and a Great Group Movie
Reviews_of_the_Dead31 October 2023
Now this is a movie that I saw at Nightmares Film Festival. It doesn't fall into horror, but I still wanted to write up a review. I should preface that this isn't normally a movie that I'd be into. Watching this with a crowd though as the day neared midnight was a fun experience. The antics in the theater from co-writer/star Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, adds to it as well. I should also include; this was the Ohio premiere.
For this movie, we have Jean Kayak (Tews) who has an orchid and he makes hard apple cider. He is a drunkard who just likes to have fun. One day, beavers come along and ruin one of his large barrels that hold his cider. This causes everything to fall apart and it is now winter. Jean isn't lucky in catching food and is struggling to survive.
Jean then gets into fur trading. He watches a bearded man make a killing. So much so that the guy running the post, Doug Mancheski, wants him to marry his daughter who is the furrier, Olivia Graves. Jean has an uphill battle to become a trapper and this will bring him head-to-head with beavers in the area. They have created an epic dam that is holding much more inside.
So, I was a bit familiar with what I'd get here after seeing a previous film from Tews called Lake Michigan Monster. This is in a similar vein. There is CGI and animation for the backgrounds. These techniques are also used with character movements and just bringing this to life in general. This takes a lot of time and I'm impressed there. What helps is that we don't get much in the way of dialogue. This is presented like a silent film at times, we even get title cards. It also reminds me of cartoons where our characters didn't talk. This looks cheap, but what goes into is much harder than it seems.
Going along with this idea, they tell a narrative story without using a lot of dialogue. Things we see do get repetitive. I'll admit that as we neared the end, I was exhausted and ready to head home. I don't want to detract from this though, staying awake the closer we get to midnight gets harder each day. I will say though. This movie is made for a theater experience or to have people over for drinks and just enjoy your time with it.
I can see people hating this. I'm telling you as someone who loves serious and bleak movies, this is a pallet cleanser that if you just roll with it, it's a great time. I didn't even mention that all the animals are just people in costumes. That makes it even better with the antics that we're seeing. If you get the chance to see this in the settings that I said, jump on this one for sure.
My Rating: 6 out of 10.
For this movie, we have Jean Kayak (Tews) who has an orchid and he makes hard apple cider. He is a drunkard who just likes to have fun. One day, beavers come along and ruin one of his large barrels that hold his cider. This causes everything to fall apart and it is now winter. Jean isn't lucky in catching food and is struggling to survive.
Jean then gets into fur trading. He watches a bearded man make a killing. So much so that the guy running the post, Doug Mancheski, wants him to marry his daughter who is the furrier, Olivia Graves. Jean has an uphill battle to become a trapper and this will bring him head-to-head with beavers in the area. They have created an epic dam that is holding much more inside.
So, I was a bit familiar with what I'd get here after seeing a previous film from Tews called Lake Michigan Monster. This is in a similar vein. There is CGI and animation for the backgrounds. These techniques are also used with character movements and just bringing this to life in general. This takes a lot of time and I'm impressed there. What helps is that we don't get much in the way of dialogue. This is presented like a silent film at times, we even get title cards. It also reminds me of cartoons where our characters didn't talk. This looks cheap, but what goes into is much harder than it seems.
Going along with this idea, they tell a narrative story without using a lot of dialogue. Things we see do get repetitive. I'll admit that as we neared the end, I was exhausted and ready to head home. I don't want to detract from this though, staying awake the closer we get to midnight gets harder each day. I will say though. This movie is made for a theater experience or to have people over for drinks and just enjoy your time with it.
I can see people hating this. I'm telling you as someone who loves serious and bleak movies, this is a pallet cleanser that if you just roll with it, it's a great time. I didn't even mention that all the animals are just people in costumes. That makes it even better with the antics that we're seeing. If you get the chance to see this in the settings that I said, jump on this one for sure.
My Rating: 6 out of 10.
Hilarious and creative as hell
elijblack9020 February 2024
This movie has plenty of laughs fueled by a seemingly endless stream of sight gags. Silent movie slapstick meets inventive satire. Live action is enhanced with silly animation, wacky sound effects, and actors in mascot costumes.
The writing and editing are very creative, and the attention to detail is very meticulous. The pacing is also excellent. The lead actor is charismatic and has great comedic chops.
Think about the creativity involved in The Evil Dead with Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell. Think about the inventiveness of the Daniels, or the relentlessness of a James Cameron pic.
Just when you think this movie can't top itself, it does. Hopefully, this leads to bigger things for the folks involved.
The writing and editing are very creative, and the attention to detail is very meticulous. The pacing is also excellent. The lead actor is charismatic and has great comedic chops.
Think about the creativity involved in The Evil Dead with Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell. Think about the inventiveness of the Daniels, or the relentlessness of a James Cameron pic.
Just when you think this movie can't top itself, it does. Hopefully, this leads to bigger things for the folks involved.
100 Beavers: Visual Gags + Absurdist Fiction
babyjaguar16 July 2023
This film, which used composite shot footage, which was humorously referencing video game strategies. This almost slapstick Buster Keaton like, or Bruce Campbell antics?) comedy, features "devilishly" stunts plus witty audio bits.
There's no spoken dialogue, mostly visual one may just say that this production crew was influenced by Wes Anderson, but has roots with the cinema of Absurdist Fiction or surreal humor meet Walt Disney.
This laborous effort shows brilliant gimmick, playing with the idea of the hunted and the hunter. This crew mainly of Wisconsin based talents showing up across the country with film festivals snapping up awards for special effects abd comedy.
The narrative follows a hunter played by Ryland Brickson trying get on the hunt, with interruptions by local animal and population living in the woods.
There's no spoken dialogue, mostly visual one may just say that this production crew was influenced by Wes Anderson, but has roots with the cinema of Absurdist Fiction or surreal humor meet Walt Disney.
This laborous effort shows brilliant gimmick, playing with the idea of the hunted and the hunter. This crew mainly of Wisconsin based talents showing up across the country with film festivals snapping up awards for special effects abd comedy.
The narrative follows a hunter played by Ryland Brickson trying get on the hunt, with interruptions by local animal and population living in the woods.
"Of course you realize this means war"
TheVictoriousV18 April 2024
In a bizarre way, Hundreds of Beavers kind of constitutes closure for me. It's the closest thing we'll get to a proper live-action Looney Tunes film (because, yeah, there was a time when even I looked at cartoons and went "This I gotta see in three dimensions").
When I saw Space Jam and Looney Tunes: Back in Action in my youth, I was disappointed and didn't fully understand why until later: The movies are about a group of characters coming together to stop bad guys and helping each other out. That's not the Looney Tunes. The Looney Tunes are supposed to annoy, beat the snot out of, and try to consume each other, oft in hilariously elaborate ways that can only happen in cartoons -- or, as it were, in the RIGHT type of live-action film.
Hundreds of Beaver is more or less that film, but visually, it is closer to a picture by Charlie Chaplin -- the original live-action cartoon -- with a few dashes of old video games and YouTube Poops. Yet, it all flows together perfectly, creating a world wherein there's a method to the madness, consistency to the chaos, and logic to the surrealism. We find ourselves immersed, understanding the rules and geography of this surreal slapstick realm of cartoon physics and AVGN-tier animal suits.
Set in 19th-century North America at the height of winter (that's about as specific as the film gets), the story follows an applejack salesman who is forced to become a fur trapper, fighting against the elements to capture enough animals to win the hand of a local merchant's daughter, using all sorts of intricate traps and schemes to do so. Meanwhile, the local beavers don't take kindly to this bearded menace. He learns that they may have been involved in him losing his applejack business.
It is, for all its influences, one of the most truly unique movies I've seen in a while. It is constantly zany and rife with visual cleverness -- with some gags that become important near the third act (allow me to propose the screenwriting term Chekov's Snot-cicle). The one complaint I can imagine people will have is that it feels just a touch too long.
In my mind, the story is sufficiently interesting -- and the gags and setpieces sufficiently varied -- to justify the runtime. But because of its hectic nature, a given minute of screentime will have so many things going on that it seems like several minutes -- not in the sense that it's tedious but in the sense that it's dense. I imagine it can be exhausting for some but as I've mentioned, the film is varied enough that you should be fine. At times, it gets close to feeling repetitive; at that same time, it does something out-of-pocket and treats us to some new sight. (Besides, the repetition is sometimes part of the humor, evoking the rhythm/structure of those silent 'toons of old.)
What's undeniable is the devotion of these filmmakers -- the "commitment to the bit" as the young uns might put it. Each scene represents just as much effort and silly wit as the last, never once failing to capture the intended vibe and look (sans maybe one shot where the backgrounds, as stupid as this may sound, look too much like a real forest).
The actors are having the time of their lives with this material and the music, cinematography, and directing in general consistently achieve that "old, wordless cartoon" feel. Real ones might know Mike Cheslik and Ryland Brickson Cole Tews for 2018's Lake Michigan Monster and the 2016 short film L. I. P. S., but if there's any good in the world, these will soon be widely known names.
Regardless of my notes above, I think you'll have a blast with Hundreds of Beavers -- and feel free to partake in the official drinking game posted by the filmmakers.
When I saw Space Jam and Looney Tunes: Back in Action in my youth, I was disappointed and didn't fully understand why until later: The movies are about a group of characters coming together to stop bad guys and helping each other out. That's not the Looney Tunes. The Looney Tunes are supposed to annoy, beat the snot out of, and try to consume each other, oft in hilariously elaborate ways that can only happen in cartoons -- or, as it were, in the RIGHT type of live-action film.
Hundreds of Beaver is more or less that film, but visually, it is closer to a picture by Charlie Chaplin -- the original live-action cartoon -- with a few dashes of old video games and YouTube Poops. Yet, it all flows together perfectly, creating a world wherein there's a method to the madness, consistency to the chaos, and logic to the surrealism. We find ourselves immersed, understanding the rules and geography of this surreal slapstick realm of cartoon physics and AVGN-tier animal suits.
Set in 19th-century North America at the height of winter (that's about as specific as the film gets), the story follows an applejack salesman who is forced to become a fur trapper, fighting against the elements to capture enough animals to win the hand of a local merchant's daughter, using all sorts of intricate traps and schemes to do so. Meanwhile, the local beavers don't take kindly to this bearded menace. He learns that they may have been involved in him losing his applejack business.
It is, for all its influences, one of the most truly unique movies I've seen in a while. It is constantly zany and rife with visual cleverness -- with some gags that become important near the third act (allow me to propose the screenwriting term Chekov's Snot-cicle). The one complaint I can imagine people will have is that it feels just a touch too long.
In my mind, the story is sufficiently interesting -- and the gags and setpieces sufficiently varied -- to justify the runtime. But because of its hectic nature, a given minute of screentime will have so many things going on that it seems like several minutes -- not in the sense that it's tedious but in the sense that it's dense. I imagine it can be exhausting for some but as I've mentioned, the film is varied enough that you should be fine. At times, it gets close to feeling repetitive; at that same time, it does something out-of-pocket and treats us to some new sight. (Besides, the repetition is sometimes part of the humor, evoking the rhythm/structure of those silent 'toons of old.)
What's undeniable is the devotion of these filmmakers -- the "commitment to the bit" as the young uns might put it. Each scene represents just as much effort and silly wit as the last, never once failing to capture the intended vibe and look (sans maybe one shot where the backgrounds, as stupid as this may sound, look too much like a real forest).
The actors are having the time of their lives with this material and the music, cinematography, and directing in general consistently achieve that "old, wordless cartoon" feel. Real ones might know Mike Cheslik and Ryland Brickson Cole Tews for 2018's Lake Michigan Monster and the 2016 short film L. I. P. S., but if there's any good in the world, these will soon be widely known names.
Regardless of my notes above, I think you'll have a blast with Hundreds of Beavers -- and feel free to partake in the official drinking game posted by the filmmakers.
Disappointing, Boring, and Nearly Unwatchable
watsonroberts-9451217 April 2024
Perhaps my expectations were too high. Perhaps it's been overhyped. Yet this movie was highly disappointing and, in the worst crime of cinema, uninteresting. The humor is like if Charlie Chaplin at his worst was working while dealing with a brain aneurysm. It's cheesy and campy, but not in a good way. And given that's the focus, it's pretty worthless overall.
The story is nonexistent, or at least unimportant. It's about a survivalist sometime between 1500 and 1900, maybe. It only exists to serve the creation of a series of gags that aren't funny, clever, creative, or witty. Many of these revolve around beavers; or, more accurately, humans dressed in beaver costumes. Is that hilarious in itself? No. Does it lead to anything hilarious? Also no.
If you saw any of the post-Naked Gun movies Leslie Nielsen did, where the gags were incredibly forced and painful to watch, you'll have a good idea of this movie's sense of humor. It's like those but with the aesthetics of The Saddest Music in the World/Guy Maddin.
The only redeeming features of this feature are the ambition and the creativity in production. Three stars for that, I guess.
The story is nonexistent, or at least unimportant. It's about a survivalist sometime between 1500 and 1900, maybe. It only exists to serve the creation of a series of gags that aren't funny, clever, creative, or witty. Many of these revolve around beavers; or, more accurately, humans dressed in beaver costumes. Is that hilarious in itself? No. Does it lead to anything hilarious? Also no.
If you saw any of the post-Naked Gun movies Leslie Nielsen did, where the gags were incredibly forced and painful to watch, you'll have a good idea of this movie's sense of humor. It's like those but with the aesthetics of The Saddest Music in the World/Guy Maddin.
The only redeeming features of this feature are the ambition and the creativity in production. Three stars for that, I guess.
BeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaverBeaver
jakebunker18 April 2024
I first heard of this movie from YMS, shoutout to him, and I'm glad I decided to go ahead and rent it as soon as it was available. The premise looked so interesting and a lot of people were saying it was the funniest film of the year. Now obviously humor is subjective but I personally found this one pretty funny. It's a well-made movie for everything it's got.
I feel like labeling this movie as a once-in-a-lifetime movie, along the same lines as the LOTR trilogy, Boyhood, and Everything Everywhere All At Once, for example. It must have been since Charlie Chaplin died that we've had a brilliant silent black-and-white movie like this one, and I'm not sure we'll see another. It's very rare to find something that can be both silly and hilarious, if that makes any sense. Just about every choice for this movie really does enhance the overall experience. The editing isn't smooth but I think that helps add to the silliness of the premise. You can tell it's just an actor running in place for example, and that's a good thing. The visual gags surprisingly never get old, combining all-too familiar visual gags with some brand new, more modern gags. It manages in a very good way of keeping a nostalgic and familiar feel while appealing to more modern audiences, and even the modern stuff I feel is going to take a very long time if at all to be outdated. There is character development and you cheer for the character to succeed, and there is spectacular setup and payoff for everything involved.
A couple things held it back from being a 10/10. I feel like the beginning wasn't executed as well as the ending in terms of comedic value, but I will say that does make the movie better and better as it goes along, which many movies are unable to accomplish. There were a couple of messy camera shots that really just left me confused (I'm thinking of the wolf attack) and had me just wondering what happened instead of the clarity of the story from the majority of the shots. A couple of the editing choices were questionable during the final action sequence but were otherwise very fitting and expertly crafted. These are honestly pretty minor things and I may change my rating to a 10 later on. My ratings not going down from here I can tell you that.
I have to say this movie is very impressive considering not many comedies these days can actually work at making you laugh. This is the highest rated comedy film that I can find on imdb after some Charlie Chaplin movies. And it has a reported budget of only $150,000???? That's insane. We're talking ONE THOUSAND TIMES LESS money than a typical Hollywood big blockbuster movie. Apparently they only had enough budget money to afford FIVE beaver suits to be used over and over again for this film. And it's still a better movie than 90% of Hollywood movies today. 100s of recommendations (see what I did there haha) for this movie; absolutely go check it out and support it.
I didn't see a parent guide for this film so I thought I'd add one so parents can decide if they want their children watching it. There is a tad bit of gore but it's black not red, and there is some impaling and other intense stuff, but those sections are very cartoony and not gory. There are also some sexual gags (objects shaped like breasts and a penis specifically; this stuff may go over some children's heads) and there is one sequence that lasts about 30 seconds of a woman pole dancing (she is clothed while doing it). Alcohol and tobacco references exist but I think that's about it; hope I gave a good overview for that.
I feel like labeling this movie as a once-in-a-lifetime movie, along the same lines as the LOTR trilogy, Boyhood, and Everything Everywhere All At Once, for example. It must have been since Charlie Chaplin died that we've had a brilliant silent black-and-white movie like this one, and I'm not sure we'll see another. It's very rare to find something that can be both silly and hilarious, if that makes any sense. Just about every choice for this movie really does enhance the overall experience. The editing isn't smooth but I think that helps add to the silliness of the premise. You can tell it's just an actor running in place for example, and that's a good thing. The visual gags surprisingly never get old, combining all-too familiar visual gags with some brand new, more modern gags. It manages in a very good way of keeping a nostalgic and familiar feel while appealing to more modern audiences, and even the modern stuff I feel is going to take a very long time if at all to be outdated. There is character development and you cheer for the character to succeed, and there is spectacular setup and payoff for everything involved.
A couple things held it back from being a 10/10. I feel like the beginning wasn't executed as well as the ending in terms of comedic value, but I will say that does make the movie better and better as it goes along, which many movies are unable to accomplish. There were a couple of messy camera shots that really just left me confused (I'm thinking of the wolf attack) and had me just wondering what happened instead of the clarity of the story from the majority of the shots. A couple of the editing choices were questionable during the final action sequence but were otherwise very fitting and expertly crafted. These are honestly pretty minor things and I may change my rating to a 10 later on. My ratings not going down from here I can tell you that.
I have to say this movie is very impressive considering not many comedies these days can actually work at making you laugh. This is the highest rated comedy film that I can find on imdb after some Charlie Chaplin movies. And it has a reported budget of only $150,000???? That's insane. We're talking ONE THOUSAND TIMES LESS money than a typical Hollywood big blockbuster movie. Apparently they only had enough budget money to afford FIVE beaver suits to be used over and over again for this film. And it's still a better movie than 90% of Hollywood movies today. 100s of recommendations (see what I did there haha) for this movie; absolutely go check it out and support it.
I didn't see a parent guide for this film so I thought I'd add one so parents can decide if they want their children watching it. There is a tad bit of gore but it's black not red, and there is some impaling and other intense stuff, but those sections are very cartoony and not gory. There are also some sexual gags (objects shaped like breasts and a penis specifically; this stuff may go over some children's heads) and there is one sequence that lasts about 30 seconds of a woman pole dancing (she is clothed while doing it). Alcohol and tobacco references exist but I think that's about it; hope I gave a good overview for that.
This movie was a great time!
matthewjfoley7 February 2024
I really enjoyed seeing this on their tour. It was a really fun film to watch in theaters with so many other excited people. The lead actor and director were there to introduce the film and field questions at the end. And some Beavers and a Rabbit were hanging out in the audience before the film started.
It was a great story for a silent film, it just keeps on giving. It really pulls you in to the drama, and you get really attached to the main character through the stages their journey. There was a really great blending of artistic styles, that made the world feel very deep and enveloping. There were puppet characters, stop motion, CGI, and of course the actors in animal suits. The props and sets were all great, too! It felt like Super Mario aesthetics meets Ikea aesthetics.
It was great to hear everyone laughing the whole way through. I couldn't believe how many people were total gag fiends. It seemed like almost everyone was laughing through the whole film.
It was a great movie experience and I don't think I will forget about it anytime soon. I wish I could watch the movie again already, and it's only been a couple days! It was a really high caliber independent film.
It was a great story for a silent film, it just keeps on giving. It really pulls you in to the drama, and you get really attached to the main character through the stages their journey. There was a really great blending of artistic styles, that made the world feel very deep and enveloping. There were puppet characters, stop motion, CGI, and of course the actors in animal suits. The props and sets were all great, too! It felt like Super Mario aesthetics meets Ikea aesthetics.
It was great to hear everyone laughing the whole way through. I couldn't believe how many people were total gag fiends. It seemed like almost everyone was laughing through the whole film.
It was a great movie experience and I don't think I will forget about it anytime soon. I wish I could watch the movie again already, and it's only been a couple days! It was a really high caliber independent film.
That's all folks
kosmasp8 February 2024
As in even the animals are being played by humans - can that be considered a pun or are you ok if I'll go with my tried and proved "no pun intended"? Since you are here I'll assume you will roll with flow ... or go with it? Whatever means of transportation ... just be sure to sit down and buckle up! It will be a ... ride you will not forget! Better believe that - and the movie starts off running and it never stops.
It also sets the tone (a quite or quiet one) ... though do not expect this to be like the silent movies you may have seen from hundreds of years ago. While there is no real dialog, the characters do make sounds or breathe in. Stuff people never got to hear in the early 20th Century when they went to watch a movie.
But this is not just an homage to the silent movie era (and its stars, Buster Keaton, Stooges and so forth) ... it also has nods to Asian Cinema (Jackie Chan stunts), Looney Tunes (Acme, traps), gaming and of course Monthy Python.
That all being said, if you dig the way this starts, you will love the movie. I wasn't sure how the movie would fill the run time ... but this has so many ideas, that it is tough to say this is too long. You may feel that way for a second here and there ... but it definitely does not feel to be an issue for most people Just be aware what you are about to watch ... only thing I am really shocked about: this is form 2022! Where was this all the time?
It also sets the tone (a quite or quiet one) ... though do not expect this to be like the silent movies you may have seen from hundreds of years ago. While there is no real dialog, the characters do make sounds or breathe in. Stuff people never got to hear in the early 20th Century when they went to watch a movie.
But this is not just an homage to the silent movie era (and its stars, Buster Keaton, Stooges and so forth) ... it also has nods to Asian Cinema (Jackie Chan stunts), Looney Tunes (Acme, traps), gaming and of course Monthy Python.
That all being said, if you dig the way this starts, you will love the movie. I wasn't sure how the movie would fill the run time ... but this has so many ideas, that it is tough to say this is too long. You may feel that way for a second here and there ... but it definitely does not feel to be an issue for most people Just be aware what you are about to watch ... only thing I am really shocked about: this is form 2022! Where was this all the time?
Many movies in one
hbuch49 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I enjoyed this movie. It seems to combine many movies into one.
As I sat watching in a NYC theater with pizza and fast food places all around, where even the homeless are well-fed, the irony of this movie's message about difficulties of getting food resources really hit. Then it transitioned into a movie about capitalism, building an empire and competition. Then it finally mutated into a commentary on the consequences of everything before.
My only criticism was that for such a surreal film, the message was a bit too obvious and made me miss the ambiguity of films like Eraserhead by David Lynch. I enjoyed the first and last parts more than "the middle part". Also enjoyed the "old cartoon" style of Popeye or early Betty Boop cartoons, combined with references to Minecraft. I will have to research what a "trapline" is, it wasn't clearly explained.
As I sat watching in a NYC theater with pizza and fast food places all around, where even the homeless are well-fed, the irony of this movie's message about difficulties of getting food resources really hit. Then it transitioned into a movie about capitalism, building an empire and competition. Then it finally mutated into a commentary on the consequences of everything before.
My only criticism was that for such a surreal film, the message was a bit too obvious and made me miss the ambiguity of films like Eraserhead by David Lynch. I enjoyed the first and last parts more than "the middle part". Also enjoyed the "old cartoon" style of Popeye or early Betty Boop cartoons, combined with references to Minecraft. I will have to research what a "trapline" is, it wasn't clearly explained.
BRILLIANT
blackcherry-2647023 March 2024
Wowowoowowow. Completely blown away. Movie of the century. I have genuinely not laughed this much at a film in my entire life. So entirely original and fresh, I have never in my life seen anything like this, but it's also super timeless and classic feeling. I can imagine this being a huge must-see cult classic in the coming years. Honestly i can't think of a single person I know that wouldn't enjoy this. I just wish i knew a way to get the word out about how incredible and genius this was. It's really being slept on.
So glad i discovered this and was able to see it in on the big screen. Seriously such a treat.
So glad i discovered this and was able to see it in on the big screen. Seriously such a treat.
An Achievement in Comedic Filmmaking
GabeDoesReviews16 March 2024
Hundreds of Beavers is by far the funniest film I've seen in a very long time. I know I'm not gonna be the first or last person to say this but that's how amazing this film is. It's impossible not laugh at its sheer absurdity. Every idea is thrown into the basket, from video game references to looney tune-esque scenarios. It's energy never falters and only gets more intense as the film progresses. But what really sells the movie is that it's not to be taken seriously. The whole thing is one big joke and the filmmakers are in on it. I don't like using the "turn off your brain" quote but its fitting for a movie like Hundreds of Beavers.
You've got to be kidding
sdnxwxht25 April 2024
At the outset, I would question why there are such high ratings for this cr@p? Were they from people who worked on the production or acting of the "movie"? Most likely. There seems to be a lot of "movies" that receive unrealistic ratings and the few that I've watched highlight this fact.
This was an utterly ridiculous movie that had no redeeming features - I gave up watching it about 40 minutes in (it was SO bad).
The good points: none The bad points: the acting, the direction, the.story; filmed in glorious black and white and the list goes on.
I love Monty Python TV series and movies, Red Dwarf, Lexx but this, words almost fail me on how bad it is.
This site is under threat of losing it's reputation by allowing unmonitored (and unrealistic) reviews to propogate.
This was an utterly ridiculous movie that had no redeeming features - I gave up watching it about 40 minutes in (it was SO bad).
The good points: none The bad points: the acting, the direction, the.story; filmed in glorious black and white and the list goes on.
I love Monty Python TV series and movies, Red Dwarf, Lexx but this, words almost fail me on how bad it is.
This site is under threat of losing it's reputation by allowing unmonitored (and unrealistic) reviews to propogate.
Possibly one of the funniest movies of all time.
GhassaneJabri16 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
My biggest regret is not watching this film with a crowd. But even then, it still managed to be one of my favorite cinematic experiences of this year.
You've read the plot summary, you've maybe seen the trailer, but nothing you could ever hear or read about this film could describe the crazy nature of the experience. Yes, this is a live action morbid rendition of a Looney Tunes cartoon. But it's also a film that fully commits to its tone and visual style, and it pulls them off both flawlessly. Some of the funniest scenes I've seen all year. The compositing, clever editing, blend of practical settings and green screens are done so seamlessly that you start wondering how the filmmakers managed to do all of that with a $150k production budget.
All of the performances are fantastic, Ryland Tews was an absolute joy to watch. There's also a lot of meme references in this film, and they're pulled tastefully in a way that it doesn't detract from the experience (special mention to the song at the start of the credits, they really got me there). The costumes are very funny, fitting, but not as incredible as THE PUPPETS, one of the highlights of the film. The film flies by easily, making the 1 hour and 40 minute runtime feel like 30 minutes. And what contributes to that feeling is the modernized editing, lots of music cuts, microphone peaking, quick transitions, repetitive music cues (in the best of ways). Incredible music, it was used appropriately and for the right amount of times.
What else can I say? Just buy the film and watch it with a crowd. It's the best experience you'll have this year.
You've read the plot summary, you've maybe seen the trailer, but nothing you could ever hear or read about this film could describe the crazy nature of the experience. Yes, this is a live action morbid rendition of a Looney Tunes cartoon. But it's also a film that fully commits to its tone and visual style, and it pulls them off both flawlessly. Some of the funniest scenes I've seen all year. The compositing, clever editing, blend of practical settings and green screens are done so seamlessly that you start wondering how the filmmakers managed to do all of that with a $150k production budget.
All of the performances are fantastic, Ryland Tews was an absolute joy to watch. There's also a lot of meme references in this film, and they're pulled tastefully in a way that it doesn't detract from the experience (special mention to the song at the start of the credits, they really got me there). The costumes are very funny, fitting, but not as incredible as THE PUPPETS, one of the highlights of the film. The film flies by easily, making the 1 hour and 40 minute runtime feel like 30 minutes. And what contributes to that feeling is the modernized editing, lots of music cuts, microphone peaking, quick transitions, repetitive music cues (in the best of ways). Incredible music, it was used appropriately and for the right amount of times.
What else can I say? Just buy the film and watch it with a crowd. It's the best experience you'll have this year.
So 1700s Wisconsin!
kurtscarlson5 February 2024
My wife and I walked 2 miles through crisp February air to see a film we knew nothing about but was said to have won a bunch of awards. It was awesome! If you saw The Revenant and enjoyed all of the snow, but found it rather bleak, this is the one. The movie is divided into three parts, the struggle to survive, becoming a woodsman, and the final battle. Our hero nearly freezes and starves before learning the skills and acquiring the gear he needs to keep alive his hopes of winning the hand of an alluring furrier. There is no dialogue. French fur traders, native Americans, and animals communicate through grunts, growls, and frantic hand waving. The final set piece takes place in an industrial nightmare, the beavers' huge lodge constructed through deforestation. A dystopian show trial, a sabotaged rocket launch, and a Bond-like sled chase down an icy mountain bring movie to its exciting conclusion. It took four years to make. It shows!
So goofy, I love it
chenp-5470815 April 2024
Imagine you make a Looney Tunes cartoon but turn it into real life, this is what you are going to get. The amusement and the insanity this movie takes it purely amazing with each single moment being extremely entertaining, hilarious and wild for it's stake of time.
The visual gags, presentation, and style is low budget but it greatly captures the humor, essence and insanity of what is Looney Tunes and the old classic slapstick humor from the silent era was. With great visual gags, hilarious banters, and intentional weird costume choices, this movie achieves what makes everything funny, hilarious and wild.
I don't think I have ever seen a movie like this in my life but here we are.
The visual gags, presentation, and style is low budget but it greatly captures the humor, essence and insanity of what is Looney Tunes and the old classic slapstick humor from the silent era was. With great visual gags, hilarious banters, and intentional weird costume choices, this movie achieves what makes everything funny, hilarious and wild.
I don't think I have ever seen a movie like this in my life but here we are.
BRAVO! This was entertaining, fun, smart, and brought joy into my life
siderite26 April 2024
Imagine if someone were to make the Roadrunner cartoons live action, but in the style of black and white silent movies, with references to everything from Laurel and Hardy to Star Wars and with strong Canadian vibes. I had so much fun with this film! Watch it. It's a joy. And obviously people making the film also had a lot of fun, which is something I value in a production.
It's not just the idea, though. Everything not human was done with puppets and people dressed in animals and Papier-mâché. There is a lot of creativity and effort in this. Almost two hours of pure joy. I really recommend it. Best film I've seen in months.
It's not just the idea, though. Everything not human was done with puppets and people dressed in animals and Papier-mâché. There is a lot of creativity and effort in this. Almost two hours of pure joy. I really recommend it. Best film I've seen in months.
Joyously clever and fun, an atypical, outrageous comedy borne of recognizable influences
I_Ailurophile6 May 2024
The premise sounds promising, and the first outside glimpse we might get of any imagery tells us that we can expect the flick to be either a delightfully irreverent farce, or dubiously considered schlock. Thankfully, as the minutes tick by following an introduction, and the core thrust of the picture becomes evident, it's safe to say that the former holds true much more than the latter. Granted, this arguably goes a tad too far at points as the proceedings rely in part on juvenile puerility, and even some gross-out humor, that are somewhat boorish. Yet such instances are the exception, and not the rule, and much more than not 'Hundreds of beavers' is marvelously clever, and decidedly atypical among modern comedies. In fact, to whatever extent one facet or another of the entertainment may not meet our personal preferences, overall the title is such a blast that such subjective critiques fall by the wayside; moreover, if that's the worst I have to say, then the contributors have done very well for themselves. Kudos to filmmaker Mike Cheslik, co-writer and star Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, and all others involved, for this a joyous lark that deserves a lot more attention!
Cheslik, Tews, and their producer friends take inspiration from a variety of sources and blend it all together into something uncommon, whimsical, and fresh. In the cinematography, some choices of editing, occasional, intertitles, and mild flavoring and graininess lent to the fundamental black and white presentation, we see influence from cinema dating back to the silent era. Touches of realistic considerations come with the necessary resourcefulness of life on the frontier in the frozen north, cheerfully contrasting with the abject cartoonishness that the flick largely adopts. And I do mean cartoonishness, for one is plainly reminded of 'Merrie Melodies,' 'Looney Tunes,' and other like-minded fare including live-action kin with the use of animation, puppets and props, and full-body animal suits; sound effects, music cues, and over the top special effects; exaggerated, animated performances, the predominant declination of dialogue, and the intelligence with which animals are written; scene writing and gags ripped straight from the exploits of Wile E. Coyote and The Roadrunner, or Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny; and so on, and so on. For good measure factor in some pop culture references, much more modern and/or adult sensibilities, and obvious echoes of videogames, from lighthearted puzzle games, to platformers, to action-adventure.
This feature is one that wears its artificiality on its sleeve, yet by completely leaning into that tenor and the flippancy of classic cartoons the sum total is not just witty, but unconventional by most any standards, and rather innovative. We're apt to draw comparisons with most anything we watch as a way of understanding what we haven't seen before, and finding points of praise or criticism, and usually it's quite easy to do so from top to bottom. Far fewer are those works in any genre that emphatically tread into new territory, and the fact that 'Hundreds of beavers' can take recognizable ideas and tropes and spin them into something well outside the bounds of familiar comedy speaks so well to the great creativity of all on hand. Just as much to the point, the movie might go all-out with its frivolous buffoonery and unremitting frivolity, but in no capacity is it sloppy or ill-gotten. The mixture of all the visual elements is surely the most complex facet of the production, but the doing is navigated with aplomb, a tremendous credit to all those operating behind the scenes. The players unreservedly embrace the silliness with their wild acting, very much recalling the most outlandish ideations of any more ordinary romp, and all are to be commended; Tews, Olivia Graves, and Doug Mancheski, among others in the cast, just readily go with the flow, wherever it takes them.
And still it's Cheslik as director, and writing alongside Tews, who almost certainly earns the most substantial congratulations for this film. It's one matter to devise the concept, and create an outline for the absurdity to come. Uncharacteristic of a picture this roundly ludicrous, one plainly discerns incredible detail in the narrative and scene writing, and in the conjuration of all the odds and ends of the humor, to bring the entirety to fruition. From the amalgamation of each clear inspiration, to the extremes to which all were taken, ultimately 'Hundreds of beavers' probably well outpaces any short with those figures we know and love - Tom, Jerry, Daffy, Sylvester, Tweety, Porky, Speedy, Woody, Donald, and all their brethren - in terms of the unbridled goofiness of it all. As a matter of our individual tastes in comedy maybe that means the final product is too preposterous for its own good, yet the title can claim stupendous ingenuity, energy, skill, and care in every last regard. For my part, having sat with high hopes but mixed expectations, I am positively thrilled by just how terrifically fun it is, and Cheslik deftly draws together all the constituent parts into a bizarre but solid, cohesive whole. I could hardly be happier with just how funny this flick is, and I'm grateful I caught eye in passing of good word of mouth. In turn I can only pass on that suggestion, as I think there's something here for just about anyone. Whether you're an especial fan of the noted cartoons of yore or just looking for something irreverent and enjoyable, 'Hundreds of beavers' is utterly fantastic, I'm glad to give it my very high and enthusiastic recommendation!
Cheslik, Tews, and their producer friends take inspiration from a variety of sources and blend it all together into something uncommon, whimsical, and fresh. In the cinematography, some choices of editing, occasional, intertitles, and mild flavoring and graininess lent to the fundamental black and white presentation, we see influence from cinema dating back to the silent era. Touches of realistic considerations come with the necessary resourcefulness of life on the frontier in the frozen north, cheerfully contrasting with the abject cartoonishness that the flick largely adopts. And I do mean cartoonishness, for one is plainly reminded of 'Merrie Melodies,' 'Looney Tunes,' and other like-minded fare including live-action kin with the use of animation, puppets and props, and full-body animal suits; sound effects, music cues, and over the top special effects; exaggerated, animated performances, the predominant declination of dialogue, and the intelligence with which animals are written; scene writing and gags ripped straight from the exploits of Wile E. Coyote and The Roadrunner, or Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny; and so on, and so on. For good measure factor in some pop culture references, much more modern and/or adult sensibilities, and obvious echoes of videogames, from lighthearted puzzle games, to platformers, to action-adventure.
This feature is one that wears its artificiality on its sleeve, yet by completely leaning into that tenor and the flippancy of classic cartoons the sum total is not just witty, but unconventional by most any standards, and rather innovative. We're apt to draw comparisons with most anything we watch as a way of understanding what we haven't seen before, and finding points of praise or criticism, and usually it's quite easy to do so from top to bottom. Far fewer are those works in any genre that emphatically tread into new territory, and the fact that 'Hundreds of beavers' can take recognizable ideas and tropes and spin them into something well outside the bounds of familiar comedy speaks so well to the great creativity of all on hand. Just as much to the point, the movie might go all-out with its frivolous buffoonery and unremitting frivolity, but in no capacity is it sloppy or ill-gotten. The mixture of all the visual elements is surely the most complex facet of the production, but the doing is navigated with aplomb, a tremendous credit to all those operating behind the scenes. The players unreservedly embrace the silliness with their wild acting, very much recalling the most outlandish ideations of any more ordinary romp, and all are to be commended; Tews, Olivia Graves, and Doug Mancheski, among others in the cast, just readily go with the flow, wherever it takes them.
And still it's Cheslik as director, and writing alongside Tews, who almost certainly earns the most substantial congratulations for this film. It's one matter to devise the concept, and create an outline for the absurdity to come. Uncharacteristic of a picture this roundly ludicrous, one plainly discerns incredible detail in the narrative and scene writing, and in the conjuration of all the odds and ends of the humor, to bring the entirety to fruition. From the amalgamation of each clear inspiration, to the extremes to which all were taken, ultimately 'Hundreds of beavers' probably well outpaces any short with those figures we know and love - Tom, Jerry, Daffy, Sylvester, Tweety, Porky, Speedy, Woody, Donald, and all their brethren - in terms of the unbridled goofiness of it all. As a matter of our individual tastes in comedy maybe that means the final product is too preposterous for its own good, yet the title can claim stupendous ingenuity, energy, skill, and care in every last regard. For my part, having sat with high hopes but mixed expectations, I am positively thrilled by just how terrifically fun it is, and Cheslik deftly draws together all the constituent parts into a bizarre but solid, cohesive whole. I could hardly be happier with just how funny this flick is, and I'm grateful I caught eye in passing of good word of mouth. In turn I can only pass on that suggestion, as I think there's something here for just about anyone. Whether you're an especial fan of the noted cartoons of yore or just looking for something irreverent and enjoyable, 'Hundreds of beavers' is utterly fantastic, I'm glad to give it my very high and enthusiastic recommendation!
"A stoner movie made by stoners".
seven-johnson26 April 2024
That's why I watched this, expecting some stupid laughs.
Nah.
It just grates, it's potty humour for tweens that struggle with Family Guy or South Park because they're too wordy.
The humour works better with the characters in suits - you can't see their faces and the animations of a question marks, exclamation points etcetera are more comedic. When you've got an actual "actor" attempting to emote something you can see where the budget for this was... I can take a couple of days off work to pretend to be an actor - which is the biggest shame of the film that it's close to being good, but really let down by the human-visual element. Largely the mix of animation and reality is the most impressive element.
Hypothetically if there was a mid-upper tier physical comedian as the main role, this could have been excellent, I'm not a Carrey fan, but that sort of physicality would have worked wonders, especially versus local-theatre/amateur dramatics guy.
I'd probably watch the next film from the director, hopefully there'll be a budget for cast.
Nah.
It just grates, it's potty humour for tweens that struggle with Family Guy or South Park because they're too wordy.
The humour works better with the characters in suits - you can't see their faces and the animations of a question marks, exclamation points etcetera are more comedic. When you've got an actual "actor" attempting to emote something you can see where the budget for this was... I can take a couple of days off work to pretend to be an actor - which is the biggest shame of the film that it's close to being good, but really let down by the human-visual element. Largely the mix of animation and reality is the most impressive element.
Hypothetically if there was a mid-upper tier physical comedian as the main role, this could have been excellent, I'm not a Carrey fan, but that sort of physicality would have worked wonders, especially versus local-theatre/amateur dramatics guy.
I'd probably watch the next film from the director, hopefully there'll be a budget for cast.
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