The crazy brilliance of the cult hit ‘Hundreds of Beavers’

I heard the rumors about a unique film with a “fresh” score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Even the snooty Metacritic scale lists it as a “Must-See” 82. IMDB users love it. This also applies to people who register their viewing behavior on Letterboxd. What’s most shocking is that this critically acclaimed crowd favorite is available to stream for free for everyone on Tubi TV.

I’m here to confirm that ‘Hundreds of Beavers’ is the breakout comedy of the year. It’s even ‘almost’ family-friendly, with the occasional impression of ‘stuffed animal interior’.

Made on a shoestring budget, “Hundreds of Beavers” is a silent black-and-white film about a wannabe fur trapper (played by co-writer Ryland Brickson Cole Tews) who takes on a forest full of cuddly creatures to survive the winter and make the daughter of the fort merchant at the court. These animals are all played by people in cartoonish costumes with big heads. What starts as a hunt for a few rabbits becomes a battle between the trader and literally hundreds of beavers.

Best described as a live-action “Looney Tunes” cartoon, “Hundreds of Beavers” ditches the dialogue in favor of goofy sound effects and an epic, upbeat musical score by Chris Ryan. The trapper starts out as a desperate drunk before learning the ways of a few reluctant master hunters. Wolves attack, rabbits prove to be as smart as Bugs Bunny and the Beavers multiply and become bloodthirsty for revenge.

This is the kind of movie where the Beavers’ big cartoon eyes switch to black X’s after they die. There are some really hilarious deaths here, all mostly played with innocent whimsy (minus the felt guts in a few scenes).

Shockingly, even with an hour and 50 minute running time, “Hundreds of Beavers” never runs out of steam. Director and co-writer Mike Cheslik continues to build the chaos with endearing improvised jokes. The special effects are homemade and cheap, but the execution becomes increasingly brilliant.

Shot in winter in rural Wisconsin and Michigan, “Hundreds of Beavers” has a homemade feel, but a zealous dedication to the piece. In a world where Warner Bros. literally canceled the release of a fully completed “Looney Tunes” film, the cult success of this film demonstrates the value and desire for intelligently staged slapstick.

If “intelligently staged” and “slapstick” don’t belong in the same sentence for you, then maybe “Hundreds of Beavers” isn’t for you. It meant a lot to me. It’s there on Tubi for anyone looking for a burst of silly joy.

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Tyler Wilson can be reached at [email protected].