Hundreds of Beavers is the film that slowly rose on my social media feeds. The film had its premiere at Fantastic Fest 2022 and has since been receiving critical acclaim. The film is directed by Mike Cheslik and written by Cheslik, Ryland Brickson, and Cole Tews. The film stars Tews as an applejack maker in a conflict with beavers, trying to win the hand of a merchant’s daughter.

Hundreds of Beavers is a straight up cartoon hi-jinks comedy in the best way possible! The film is without dialogue but does compensate with the action sequences. It’s an ode to the pre-talkie films and slapstick comedy. Hundreds of Beavers excels in bringing a sense of old school theatrics to the digital age. The story is pretty bare but that’s not what you’re here to see, it’s the hundreds of beavers!

I found myself enjoying this as a cozy relaxing film that doesn’t ask much of you but to just get some laughs out of you. The real fun also comes in thinking about how much they were able to do with such a low budget for a film of this magnitude. It really does shine the light on the indie and gonzo filmmaking techniques that don’t get enough coverage. In a world where a lot of films are trying to be the most polished or dense with storyline, I feel Hundreds of Beavers brings it back to the start. It’s wacky and fun which is what sometimes is missing in the film world that can take itself too serious at times.

Of course, this could be a downside to someone who might not really be fond of films that just dance to the beat of their own drum. Hundreds of Beavers is a film that’s clear on what it is and doesn’t change for anyone. It’s truly just an entertaining film that wants to push what a conventional movie is nowadays. The movie at times, however, does feel like it keeps going and going with the same gag which made it tedious. I said it at the beginning, though, it definitely was more of an experience and cozy vibes type of film.

Overall, I got to give credit to the filmmakers for daring to make something like Hundreds of Beavers. The amount of hype it’s been getting online as well is a testament to what the audiences are wanting nowadays. A truly unique and hilarious bit that can become a bit repetitive but still manages to push through. It’s definitely not for everyone but for those eager for something that dares to be different.

We give Hundreds of Beavers a 3.25/5.