Hundreds of Beavers: Honest Review — Is It Worth Watching? | 7.2/10

Hundreds of Beavers is a gleefully unhinged fever dream that actually pulls off its absurd premise with guts and genuine laughs—it’s the kind of film that shouldn’t work but absolutely does, as long as you’re willing to surrender your brain completely.

This movie swings wildly between slapstick mayhem and character moments that almost feel sincere, and while it doesn’t always land, the sheer commitment to the bit earns respect.

The plot (no spoilers)

Picture this: a washed-up applejack salesman in 19th-century North America decides his only path to redemption is becoming history’s greatest fur trapper—by hunting hundreds of beavers, an animal he’s apparently never encountered before his quest begins. Hundreds of Beavers commits to this premise with the kind of sincerity usually reserved for Shakespeare, which is precisely why it’s so damn funny.

The film plays this straight-faced insanity as a genuine hero’s journey, complete with mentorship arcs and romantic tension, all wrapped around the central absurdity of watching a man wage war against rodents with increasingly elaborate schemes. The tone wobbles between slapstick brutality and oddly touching character beats, creating something that feels like a Coen Brothers film filtered through the lens of someone who just discovered physical comedy and decided to weaponize it.

Acting & direction

Ryland Brickson Cole Tews carries the entire film with a deadpan commitment that’s genuinely impressive—he plays the applejack salesman with the kind of sincerity usually reserved for prestige drama, which makes every ridiculous moment land harder. Olivia Graves brings real warmth to her scenes, grounding the absurdity in actual human stakes that somehow make you care about this mess.

Mike Cheslik’s direction is the real MVP here—the cinematography feels deliberately grimy and period-authentic while chaos erupts on screen, and the editing rhythm punches with impeccable timing that turns slapstick into almost balletic violence. The score swells genuinely at moments that should feel ironic but instead feel earned, which is a technical high-wire act most comedies botch completely.

The strengths

• The movie commits so thoroughly to its ridiculous premise that it achieves a kind of comedic transcendence that half-measures could never touch.
• Physical comedy here is genuinely inventive rather than lazy—every beaver-related death scene is choreographed with the precision usually reserved for action films.
• The script somehow weaves genuine emotional arcs into the chaos, so you actually care about this idiot and his beaver vendetta by the final act.
• The cinematography and production design make the whole thing feel like a real historical film, which only amplifies the absurdity of the central conflict.

The weaknesses

• The pacing sags occasionally in the middle section when the film tries to build character development around a concept that doesn’t inherently sustain ninety minutes.
• Some comedic bits stretch too long and lose their punch, particularly a few scenes that feel like they’re begging for a tighter edit to maintain momentum.

Who should watch it

If you loved the absurdist energy of The Ballad of Buster Scruggs or appreciate dark comedy adventure that swings big and doesn’t apologize, this is absolutely your movie—you need the kind of sensibility that finds humor in sincere commitment to the ridiculous rather than ironic detachment. Fans of IMDB’s indie comedy treasures and anyone who enjoyed early Tim Heidecker projects will find plenty to love here.

Final verdict

Hundreds of Beavers is a genuinely special film that understands something fundamental about comedy—that sincerity plus absurdity plus commitment equals something that hits different than irony ever could. It’s not flawless, and some viewers will rightfully bail on the premise before it can work its spell, but for those willing to meet it on its own deranged wavelength, the film delivers unexpected emotional resonance wrapped around literal beaver warfare. This deserves the 7.2 score and probably deserves higher from the right audience.