Shine on You Unique Indie Movies
Three recent releases that offer unique viewing experiences if you give them a shot.
While you might’ve heard about the big box office movies like Dune: Part Two, Godzilla x Kong, or even Civil War, I’m willing to bet that you haven’t heard of the three movies I’m reviewing today. There’s a chance that you read this newsletter to find unique movies like these– that’s exactly what I’m hoping for.Â
Hundreds of Beavers
Described as a silent supernatural epic, Hundreds of Beavers follows the slapstick adventures of a drunken applejack salesman. Following the destruction of his lucrative business venture, this salesman must earn a living somehow. The destruction is by his own hands as his drunkenness from his product destroys his business. First, comes the drive for survival, but quickly he learns that there might be money in successfully trapping and selling the furs of countless mischievous beavers.Â
Created by director Mike Cheslik and star Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, Hundreds of Beavers plays out like an ode to Charlie Chaplin comedies of the ‘20s and countless Looney Tunes cartoons. The whole endeavor speaks to how much care and commitment they put into the project. A clearer narrative comes into play as Jean, the Applejack Salesman, ends up befriending a Merchant (Doug Mancheski) who trades in survivalist goods (think stuff like ropes and jackets) for dead beavers. While that will certainly get him a better chance at surviving this cold winter, he’s romantically interested in The Furrier (Olivia Graves), who is The Merchant's daughter.Â
This is one of those movies that excels in a big theater with a midnight crowd as the stakes and hilarity become ever more heightened as the story unspools. Hundreds of Beavers almost gets to a point where I’d describe it as some kind of fever dream with the adorable beavers showing their true intentions. The biggest issue that Hundreds of Beavers has is its runtime. There’s only so long this gag can hold up and it loses a bit of steam as the war between Jean and the beavers reaches its conclusion. Even if that’s the case, the love and passion that have been poured into this project are apparent and are well worth experiencing. [B]
Hundreds of Beavers is now available for streaming on Prime Video and Apple TV and is still in select theaters.
Sasquatch Sunset
Have you ever wanted to watch a crass nature documentary? I’ve got the movie for you! Sasquatch Sunset, by directors David and Nathan Zellner, captures the daily life of the mysterious Sasquatch. Never before have been treated to this otherworldly experience. The only problem is that this isn’t a nature documentary at all. It’s a narrative feature with actors Jesse Eisenberg, Riley Keough, Christophe Zajac-Denek, and Nathan Zellner dressed in ridiculous Sasquatch costumes. How ridiculous? The male Sasquatch just have their tiny penis hanging out the whole movie— unsurprisingly as much of the movie deals with sex, debauchery, and deforestation.
Outside of all the ridiculous stunt gags, Sasquatch Sunset puts time aside to contemplate humans’ role in the diminishing wilderness. It’s the only thread in which the movie finds any true sympathy. Out of all the actors in the movie, Riley Keough’s Sasquatch has the most suffering. Not only is she constantly assaulted by the males around her, but she must also care for her child. While the connection could easily be made to the difficult lives of women in our society today— it’s a little much to be bludged in the head for 90 minutes about the same topic. While I was originally drawn to the idea of Sasquatch Sunset, it’s mostly a chore to sit through. If you’ve ever seen 2001: A Space Odyssey it’s that first sequence mixed with projectiles and fecal matter for far too long. [D]
Sasquatch Sunset is now playing in select theaters.
The People’s Joker
I’ll try my best to explain The People’s Joker. The movie is a trans coming-of-age film using the IP of Batman as background. It stars writer/director Vera Drew and explains in a roundabout way that her deep love of Batman helped her find her true self. The fact that this movie drew the wrath of Warner Bros. lawyers before it could be released certainly raised its profile, but it’s so much more than a parody using Batman characters. (If you want to read more about The People’s Joker and its journey to the screen click here).
When Joker (Drew) was a child, they felt as though they never really fit in anywhere. What they hoped was by using comedy they could be anyone they wanted to be. Thus started their lifelong dream to join one of the biggest comedy shows in all of Gotham, UCB Live. While comedy is a wonderful dream for Joker, it is also a male-dominated field, leading to another avenue Joker can’t fit in.
Here’s another movie that its obvious how personal and how much love was poured into the production. It’s so much more than the DC Comics hook would lead you to believe, but if that draws you into this shockingly creative picture, then it’s worth all the trouble Drew went into making it. There’s nothing quite like The People’s Joker, but here’s hoping that this is just the beginning. [B]