In October 2018 while sharing beers in a frigid Milwaukee bar with his soon-to-be leading man Ryland Tews, director, visual effects artist and editor of “Hundreds of Beavers” Mike Cheslik conceived the film based on three simple elements: his After Effects skills, familiarity with snow and Tews’ uncanny ability to fall over.
“We knew that the image of a guy in a mascot costume falling down was fundamentally funny,” Cheslik explains. “And if that is in every shot, even if our gags aren’t working well, we have the fundamental comedy of mascot animal. Is that right, Ryland?”
“Absolutely,” Tews says in response. “We just wanted to make a movie that looked like nothing else.”
Ryland Tews and Mike Cheslik on the set of “Hundreds of Beavers.”
This would begin the five-and-a-half-year journey to the theatrical release of one of 2024’s most successful indie films. Entirely self-distributed, “Hundreds of Beavers” has...
“We knew that the image of a guy in a mascot costume falling down was fundamentally funny,” Cheslik explains. “And if that is in every shot, even if our gags aren’t working well, we have the fundamental comedy of mascot animal. Is that right, Ryland?”
“Absolutely,” Tews says in response. “We just wanted to make a movie that looked like nothing else.”
Ryland Tews and Mike Cheslik on the set of “Hundreds of Beavers.”
This would begin the five-and-a-half-year journey to the theatrical release of one of 2024’s most successful indie films. Entirely self-distributed, “Hundreds of Beavers” has...
- 5/6/2024
- by Jack Dunn
- Variety Film + TV
Hundreds of Beavers premiered at Fantastic Fest in 2022 and released digitally in April of 2024.
I didn’t know much about the Mike Cheslik directed film prior to seeing it. I had heard the name and initially believed it was a nature documentary. I was very wrong. After reading the description I thought it might be a horror-comedy in the vein of 2015’s Zombeavers. Wrong again. It’s a genre-defying mishmash comprised of absurdist slapstick humor, and I absolutely loved it.
Hundreds of Beavers Plot
Also Read: Straight Outta Compton and Obi-Wan Kenobi Star Lays It All on the Line for Naughty Dog’s Contentious Sequel
Jean Kayak (Ryland Brickson Cole Tews) has his life flipped upside down when beavers destroy his home. While attempting to survive in the brutal cold of winter, he finds himself at odds with various wildlife. Rabbits, racoons, wolves and beavers continuously outsmart the dimwitted man.
I didn’t know much about the Mike Cheslik directed film prior to seeing it. I had heard the name and initially believed it was a nature documentary. I was very wrong. After reading the description I thought it might be a horror-comedy in the vein of 2015’s Zombeavers. Wrong again. It’s a genre-defying mishmash comprised of absurdist slapstick humor, and I absolutely loved it.
Hundreds of Beavers Plot
Also Read: Straight Outta Compton and Obi-Wan Kenobi Star Lays It All on the Line for Naughty Dog’s Contentious Sequel
Jean Kayak (Ryland Brickson Cole Tews) has his life flipped upside down when beavers destroy his home. While attempting to survive in the brutal cold of winter, he finds himself at odds with various wildlife. Rabbits, racoons, wolves and beavers continuously outsmart the dimwitted man.
- 4/29/2024
- by Joshua Ryan
- FandomWire
It’s a slow weekend for theatrical releases but a great one for streaming debuts. The hottest title is a surefire Oscar candidate, and the others have become fan favorites with long shelf lives ahead.
The contender to watch this week: “Dune: Part Two“
Denis Villeneuve‘s first “Dune” won six of its 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Original Score and Best Visual Effects. His second, 2024’s highest-grossing movie to date, could show up in many of the same categories next year. Timothée Chalamet probably has a better shot at a nomination for the Bob Dylan biopic he’s currently shooting, and if Zendaya deserves recognition for anything, it’s “Challengers.” But even without acting contenders, “Dune: Part Two” could rank among next season’s biggest players. It’s still in theaters, but you can now ride the sandworm at home by renting or purchasing the film on VOD.
Other contenders:...
The contender to watch this week: “Dune: Part Two“
Denis Villeneuve‘s first “Dune” won six of its 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Original Score and Best Visual Effects. His second, 2024’s highest-grossing movie to date, could show up in many of the same categories next year. Timothée Chalamet probably has a better shot at a nomination for the Bob Dylan biopic he’s currently shooting, and if Zendaya deserves recognition for anything, it’s “Challengers.” But even without acting contenders, “Dune: Part Two” could rank among next season’s biggest players. It’s still in theaters, but you can now ride the sandworm at home by renting or purchasing the film on VOD.
Other contenders:...
- 4/20/2024
- by Matthew Jacobs
- Gold Derby
Mike Cheslik behind the scenes of Hundreds Of BeaversImage: Srh
If you’ve had a chance to catch Hundreds Of Beavers during its recent roadshow tour, or at any of the many festivals where it’s played to enthusiastic audiences, you already know what a weird and wonderful film it is.
If you’ve had a chance to catch Hundreds Of Beavers during its recent roadshow tour, or at any of the many festivals where it’s played to enthusiastic audiences, you already know what a weird and wonderful film it is.
- 4/19/2024
- by Cindy White
- avclub.com
Stars: Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, Doug Mancheski, Olivia Graves, Wes Tank, Luis Rico | Written by Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, Mike Cheslik | Directed by Mike Cheslik
When my partner asked me what movie I was watching perhaps “checking out Hundreds of Beavers” wasn’t the best of all possible answers. And I suppose trying to clarify it with “big hairy Canadian beavers” didn’t help. But despite the title and opening quote from St. Augustine, “Lord grant me chastity, but not yet!”, this isn’t that kind of a movie.
The new film from director Mike Cheslik and co-writer Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, the pair who gave us the Tews-directed Lake Michigan Monster, never really gets raunchier than an old episode of The Benny Hill Show as it relates the tale of Jean Kayak (Ryland Brickson Cole Tews) who, as we see in the opening animation, has lost his apple orchard...
When my partner asked me what movie I was watching perhaps “checking out Hundreds of Beavers” wasn’t the best of all possible answers. And I suppose trying to clarify it with “big hairy Canadian beavers” didn’t help. But despite the title and opening quote from St. Augustine, “Lord grant me chastity, but not yet!”, this isn’t that kind of a movie.
The new film from director Mike Cheslik and co-writer Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, the pair who gave us the Tews-directed Lake Michigan Monster, never really gets raunchier than an old episode of The Benny Hill Show as it relates the tale of Jean Kayak (Ryland Brickson Cole Tews) who, as we see in the opening animation, has lost his apple orchard...
- 4/16/2024
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
Since it seems that the big action blockbusters are taking over the multiplex far in advance of their usual Summertime occupancy, what’s out there for lovers of silent-movie style slapstick and Golden Age cartoon short lunacy (as in those “Tunes”)? Well, a recent “midnight movie” indie hit on the “film festival circuit” is now available to rent or buy via streaming. Oh, but that title might raise a few “red flags” on your business search engine when getting some info on it. Not to worry, since most rating boards would probably give it a “PG-13” rating, at most, due to some scatological humor and some sexy gymnastics for a few seconds. Ah, but let’s delve a bit more into the movie with the ‘eyebrow-raising’ moniker, the fantasy fable/farce concerning Hundreds Of Beavers.
Well, it does resemble a silent comedy from a hundred years ago just before we...
Well, it does resemble a silent comedy from a hundred years ago just before we...
- 4/15/2024
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Reuniting the team that brought Lake Michigan Monster to audiences in 2019, frostbitten slapstick epic Hundreds of Beavers sets its digital debut after a successful festival and theatrical run.
Look for Hundreds of Beavers to be available for rental and purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV nationwide through FilmHub starting April 15, 2024. Other major Tvod platforms will follow. The frostbitten epic comedy will be available as an SVOD exclusive on Fandor beginning April 19.
The film 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.
About Hundreds of Beavers: “In this silent supernatural epic, a drunken applejack salesman is thrust into the frigid wilderness. Can he go from Zero to Hero, become North America’s greatest fur trapper, and defeat hundreds of beavers?”
Tews plays Jean Kayak, who “finds himself stranded in a surreal winter landscape...
Look for Hundreds of Beavers to be available for rental and purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV nationwide through FilmHub starting April 15, 2024. Other major Tvod platforms will follow. The frostbitten epic comedy will be available as an SVOD exclusive on Fandor beginning April 19.
The film 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.
About Hundreds of Beavers: “In this silent supernatural epic, a drunken applejack salesman is thrust into the frigid wilderness. Can he go from Zero to Hero, become North America’s greatest fur trapper, and defeat hundreds of beavers?”
Tews plays Jean Kayak, who “finds himself stranded in a surreal winter landscape...
- 4/3/2024
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Wes Tank in Hundreds Of BeaversImage: Srh
With influences including Charlie Chaplin, Guy Maddin, Looney Tunes, Trey Parker, Joe Carnahan’s The Grey, and a handful of Nintendo games, Hundreds Of Beavers is one of the most distinctive movies you’ll see all year, and one made for midnight viewings if ever anything was.
With influences including Charlie Chaplin, Guy Maddin, Looney Tunes, Trey Parker, Joe Carnahan’s The Grey, and a handful of Nintendo games, Hundreds Of Beavers is one of the most distinctive movies you’ll see all year, and one made for midnight viewings if ever anything was.
- 3/11/2024
- by Luke Y. Thompson
- avclub.com
Those dismayed by the cancellation of the big-budget “Coyote vs. Acme” — a high-profile casualty of the recent Hollywood trend towards pulling the plug on near-completed projects — may find consolation and then some in “Hundreds of Beavers.” That is, if they become aware of it, of course. Chances are good that they will, eventually, as this DIY delight has begun self-distributing to North American theaters following a long tour on the regional festival circuit. It’s sure to develop a significant cult following with its unique mix of silent-era slapstick, animation elements, theme-park-style critter costumes, and general air of inspired absurdity.
Well, not entirely unique: Director Mike Cheslik and star Ryland Brickson Cole Tews previously collaborated on 2018’s “Lake Michigan Monster,” a similarly nonsensical B&w comedy, albeit in a more Guy Maddin-esque pseudo-early-talkie vein, with a fantasy adventure gist in the vein of Jules Verne. But for all its enterprise,...
Well, not entirely unique: Director Mike Cheslik and star Ryland Brickson Cole Tews previously collaborated on 2018’s “Lake Michigan Monster,” a similarly nonsensical B&w comedy, albeit in a more Guy Maddin-esque pseudo-early-talkie vein, with a fantasy adventure gist in the vein of Jules Verne. But for all its enterprise,...
- 2/17/2024
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
The Canadian comedy screened last week at the Fantasia festival.
Raven Banner has picked up international sales rights to Mike Cheslik’s fantasy comedy Hundreds Of Beavers, which had its Canadian premiere last week in the Underground section of Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival.
The film, Cheslik’s feature directing debut, is a dialogue-free homage to silent cinema about a drunken nineteenth century cider salesman whose stock is ruined by hungry beavers and tries to recover his fortune by becoming North America’s greatest fur trapper.
Ryland Brickson Cole Tews stars and co-wrote the script with Cheslik.
The film...
Raven Banner has picked up international sales rights to Mike Cheslik’s fantasy comedy Hundreds Of Beavers, which had its Canadian premiere last week in the Underground section of Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival.
The film, Cheslik’s feature directing debut, is a dialogue-free homage to silent cinema about a drunken nineteenth century cider salesman whose stock is ruined by hungry beavers and tries to recover his fortune by becoming North America’s greatest fur trapper.
Ryland Brickson Cole Tews stars and co-wrote the script with Cheslik.
The film...
- 7/31/2023
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
Stars: Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, Doug Mancheski, Olivia Graves, Wes Tank, Luis Rico | Written by Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, Mike Cheslik | Directed by Mike Cheslik
When my partner asked me what I was doing tonight perhaps “checking out Hundreds of Beavers” wasn’t the best of all possible answers. And I suppose trying to clarify it with “big hairy Canadian beavers” didn’t help. But despite the title and opening quote from St. Augustine, “Lord grant me chastity, but not yet!”, this isn’t that kind of a movie.
The new film from director Mike Cheslik and co-writer Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, the pair who gave us the Tews-directed Lake Michigan Monster, never really gets raunchier than an old episode of The Benny Hill Show as it relates the tale of Jean Kayak (Ryland Brickson Cole Tews) who, as we see in the opening animation, has lost his apple orchard...
When my partner asked me what I was doing tonight perhaps “checking out Hundreds of Beavers” wasn’t the best of all possible answers. And I suppose trying to clarify it with “big hairy Canadian beavers” didn’t help. But despite the title and opening quote from St. Augustine, “Lord grant me chastity, but not yet!”, this isn’t that kind of a movie.
The new film from director Mike Cheslik and co-writer Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, the pair who gave us the Tews-directed Lake Michigan Monster, never really gets raunchier than an old episode of The Benny Hill Show as it relates the tale of Jean Kayak (Ryland Brickson Cole Tews) who, as we see in the opening animation, has lost his apple orchard...
- 7/31/2023
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
Hundreds Of Beavers Teaser Trailer: "In this silent supernatural epic, a drunken applejack salesman is thrust into the frigid wilderness. Can he go from zero to hero, become North America's greatest fur trapper, and defeat hundreds of beavers?"
After a celebrated World Premiere at FantasticFest 2022, it took to the festival circuit, and will be screening at twelve different festivals in April alone, including Atlanta Film Festival where it's nominated for Best Cinematography, and Fantaspoa in Brazil. Hundreds of Beavers is from writer/director Mike Cheslik and producer Ryland Brickson Cole Tews.
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Abruptio at Panic Fest: "HellBent Pictures is excited to announce the next screening of Evan Marlowe's life-sized puppet horror Abruptio at Panic Fest, Kansas City's celebrated film festival now in its 10th year at the historic Screenland Theater. Comedy, mystery, blood, A-List voices, action, and puppets combine in the first-of-its-kind surrealistic horror/thriller.
Abruptio features the voice talents...
After a celebrated World Premiere at FantasticFest 2022, it took to the festival circuit, and will be screening at twelve different festivals in April alone, including Atlanta Film Festival where it's nominated for Best Cinematography, and Fantaspoa in Brazil. Hundreds of Beavers is from writer/director Mike Cheslik and producer Ryland Brickson Cole Tews.
---
Abruptio at Panic Fest: "HellBent Pictures is excited to announce the next screening of Evan Marlowe's life-sized puppet horror Abruptio at Panic Fest, Kansas City's celebrated film festival now in its 10th year at the historic Screenland Theater. Comedy, mystery, blood, A-List voices, action, and puppets combine in the first-of-its-kind surrealistic horror/thriller.
Abruptio features the voice talents...
- 4/13/2023
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
To kick off a brand new month, we have a brand new batch of horror and sci-fi titles coming home this week on Blu-ray & DVD. If you missed it earlier this year, you can check out Antebellum this Tuesday when it hits 4K Ultra HD, Blu, and DVD. Rlje Films is getting into the holiday mood early with their release of Christmas Presence, and the entire series of Game of Thrones is getting the 4K treatment as well.
Other releases for November 3rd include Lake Michigan Monster, The Veil, They Reach, Let's Scare Julie, and V for Vendetta in 4K.
Antebellum
Successful author Veronica Henley (Janelle Monáe) finds herself trapped in a horrifying reality that forces her to confront the past, present and future – before it’s too late.
Special Features:
The History in Front of Us: Deconstructing Antebellum (2-Part Documentary)
A Hint of Horror: The Clues of Antebellum...
Other releases for November 3rd include Lake Michigan Monster, The Veil, They Reach, Let's Scare Julie, and V for Vendetta in 4K.
Antebellum
Successful author Veronica Henley (Janelle Monáe) finds herself trapped in a horrifying reality that forces her to confront the past, present and future – before it’s too late.
Special Features:
The History in Front of Us: Deconstructing Antebellum (2-Part Documentary)
A Hint of Horror: The Clues of Antebellum...
- 11/3/2020
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Lake Michigan Monster (2018) will be available on Blu-ray from Arrow Video November 3rd
Lake Michigan Monster Banned In Four Lakes!
All aboard! The combined spirits of H.P. Lovecraft, early Sam Raimi and Mystery Science Theater 3000 inhabit this action-packed tale of nautical derring-do and monster mayhem winner of the Audience Award for Best International Feature at the 2019 Fantasia Film Festival.
On the shores of Lake Michigan, the eccentric Captain Seafield enlists a colourful crew of misfits in a bid to slay the hellish sea monster that prowls the murky depths. But as Seafield s obsession with exacting revenge on the creature that killed his father threatens to consume him, can weapons expert Sean Shaughnessy (Erick West), sonar whiz Nedge Pepsi (Beulah Peters) and former N.A.V.Y. Nautical Athletes and adVenture Yunit officer Dick Flynn (Daniel Long) hold the show together?
Shot in gloriously retro black and white on a shoestring budget,...
Lake Michigan Monster Banned In Four Lakes!
All aboard! The combined spirits of H.P. Lovecraft, early Sam Raimi and Mystery Science Theater 3000 inhabit this action-packed tale of nautical derring-do and monster mayhem winner of the Audience Award for Best International Feature at the 2019 Fantasia Film Festival.
On the shores of Lake Michigan, the eccentric Captain Seafield enlists a colourful crew of misfits in a bid to slay the hellish sea monster that prowls the murky depths. But as Seafield s obsession with exacting revenge on the creature that killed his father threatens to consume him, can weapons expert Sean Shaughnessy (Erick West), sonar whiz Nedge Pepsi (Beulah Peters) and former N.A.V.Y. Nautical Athletes and adVenture Yunit officer Dick Flynn (Daniel Long) hold the show together?
Shot in gloriously retro black and white on a shoestring budget,...
- 10/28/2020
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
"The authorities say: 'sea monsters aren't real.'" But we know they are! Arrow Video has released an official trailer for an intriguing indie comedy adventure horror genre mashup titled Lake Michigan Monster, from a filmmaker named Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, who also stars in this as the Captain. "All aboard! The combined spirits of H.P. Lovecraft, early Sam Raimi and Mystery Science Theater 3000 inhabit this action-packed tale of nautical derring-do and monster mayhem – winner of the Audience Award for Best International Feature at the 2019 Fantasia Film Festival." An eccentric ship captain and a crew of specialists plot revenge against the most mysterious creature of the deep -- the Lake Michigan Monster. Presented in "glorious" black & white. Starring Ryland as Seafield, with Erick West, Beulah Peters, Daniel Long, and Wayne Tews. This looks cool! I always enjoy these funky, strange, clever genre films exploring wacky concepts. This also looks like...
- 7/6/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
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