Part animated, part live-action, and a lot of people in beaver suits – there’s nothing too serious about Hundreds of Beavers. It’s simply a goofy, slapstick-style movie following a former Apple Jack brewer Jean Kayak, who’s left to the wilderness after beavers destroyed his stock and orchards. After just barely surviving an unending winter, he turns into a fur trapper to survive but also to win the hand of the woman he’s fallen for.
Shot completely in black and white Hundreds of Beavers follows Jean through his journey and attempts to learn to how to catch and kill beavers. First to survive, but later to show he is worthy to marry the tradesman’s daughter. The movie brings in a lot of cartoon antics like sinkholes that lead to different destinations, repeated gags like birds that attack after hearing a certain sound, and even fake-outs by the animals along the way. Of course, cartoon physics plays a role as well, as no matter what happens to Kayak he is fine – there is no base in reality. But could you expect one in a movie filled with hundreds of beaver, raccoon, and other animal costumes the same size if not bigger than their human counterparts?
The movie is nothing short of ridiculous, and at an hour and 45 minutes – that’s a lot of ridiculous. It’s a lot of fun, a bit of goofy adult antics, and (mostly) devoid of dialogue. It mixes cartoon antics, some bits of video game rules (purchasing items to level up with the tradesman) and a lot of beavers. It’s funny, weird, mindless and no doubt will have a cult following after its tour and eventual opening.
Hundreds of Beavers is excited to announce their North American theatrical rollout. The film, which was lensed in Wisconsin and Michigan over a period of four years, will begin screenings with a Great Lakes Roadshow. The cast and crew of the comedy cult hit of the 2023 festival circuit, are coming to cities around the Great Lakes to host rowdy screenings of their surreal slapstick winter comedy through January and February.
Each performance will include an intro, live performers, exclusive merchandise, and a Q&A with special and surprise guests. The screenings will kick off in Minneapolis, MN on January 26 at the Showplace Icon Theater and conclude in Toronto on February 10 at the Fox.
Following the Roadshow, Hundreds of Beavers will go on screening across the United States for runs and engagements in New York City (Selected Screens beginning February 27), Los Angeles (Laemmle Glendale beginning March 15), Atlanta (Plaza Theater on February 9), Charlotte (The Independent Picture House beginning March 29) and many more.
For full screening opportunities visit their website.
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About Hundreds of Beavers
Reuniting the team that brought Lake Michigan Monster to audiences in 2019, Hundreds of Beavers stars Ryland Brickson Cole Tews as the intrepid hero of this frostbitten inventive epic, co-written by Tews and Mike Cheslik making his feature directorial debut.
Hundreds of Beavers made its world premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2022 and has emerged as one of the festival circuit’s most unexpected gems, currently standing at 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Hundreds of Beavers has earned critical acclaim at festivals around the globe, including Fantaspoa, the Fantasia International Film Festival, Sitges Film Festival, the Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival, Popcorn Frights, the Sydney Underground Film Festival and FilmQuest.
The filmmakers have taken home a number of awards including Best Narrative Feature at the Kansas City Film Festival International, the Oxford Film Festival, the Capital City Film Festival, and the Wyoming International Film Festival. Cheslik took home Best Director at Wyoming and the Phoenix Film Festival, as well as Best Comedy Feature at Midwest Weirdfest. At Mexico City’s Morbido Film Festival, Hundreds of Beavers won the coveted Bronze Skull Award. Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival awarded the film the Bronze Audience Award for Best International Feature.