39/41
In this epic supernatural winter film set in the 19th century, a drunken apple trader must go from novice to hero and become the greatest fur trapper in North America by defeating hundreds of beavers. The film was estimated to have a budget of around $150,000. Director Mike Cheslik estimated the mascot costumes cost around $10,000 and the crew purchased all the costumes online. After Watson Beaver “passes out”; his whiskers fall off and he lands in the snow while climbing back up. He uses it again in the next scene, although he walks away without picking it up. Mentioned in the Film Junk podcast: Episode 940: Immaculate (2024). Jean Kayak and her Acme Applejack Written and produced by Wayne Tews Designed and co-produced by Karl Landwehr. This is a film I saw at the Nightmares Film Festival. It’s not terrible, but I still wanted to write a review. I would like to start by saying that this is not usually a movie I like. However, watching the show with the audience was a fun experience as it was getting close to midnight. Adding to the spectacle are the theatrical antics of writer/star Ryland Brickson Cole Tews. I should also include; this was a first in Ohio. For this movie we have Jean Kayak (Tews), who owns an orchid and makes apple cider. He is a drunk who is just having fun. One day, beavers come and destroy one of his large barrels of cider. Everything is falling apart and now it is winter. Jean is not lucky enough to find food and struggles to survive. Then Jean gets into the fur trade. He witnesses a bearded man commit a murder. So much so that the man in charge, Doug Mancheski, wants him to marry his daughter, Olivia Graves, a furrier. Jean struggles to become a skilled hunter, which puts him at odds with the beavers in the area. They have created a colossal dam that can hold much more. So I was a little bit aware of what to expect after seeing a previous film by Tews called Lake Michigan Monster. It is the same way. In the background there is CGI and animation. These techniques are also used in the movements of the characters and, more generally, to bring them to life. It takes a long time and I am impressed by it. What helps is that we do not have much dialogue. Sometimes it is presented as a silent film, we even get business cards. It also reminds me of cartoons where the characters did not speak. It seems like a small thing, but it is much more difficult than it seems. Consistent with this idea, they tell a narrative story without resorting to much dialogue. The things we see are repeated. I admit that when we got close to the end, I was exhausted and ready to go home. However, I do not want to underestimate this thing, because staying awake at midnight is becoming more difficult every day. I say it anyway. This film is made to be seen in the theater or to make you drink and simply enjoy the time spent watching it. I see people hate this. As a fan of serious and dark films, I can say that this is a film that, if you take it slowly, gives you some fantastic moments. I didn’t even say that all the animals are just people in costumes. And with the makeup we see, it becomes even better. If you have the opportunity to watch it in the settings I mentioned, do it immediately. My rating: 6/10.