Video game adaptations are not what they used to be, because now they are good. Thanks to the mainstream appeal and awards won by Fallout, The Last of Us, Arcane, and the Sonic and Mario films, the words “game adaptation” are no longer codewords for ‘a terrible waste of time’. However, right now the best video game film might not be based on a video game.
First released in 2022, the honestly-titled Hundreds of Beavers has never had the widespread release you would expect from any modern film. Instead, the film has slowly toured screens like the films of the 1930s, and recently embarked on its UK and Ireland tour.
When it was last shown in London, screenings often sold out, with servers at Leicester Square’s Prince Charles Cinema saying they were surprised by how many had come to see a pretty unique film, unlike anything else in the cinema today.
“Demands to be taken as a joke”
In Hundreds of Beavers, Arctic applejack salesman Jean Kayak (Ryland Tews) tries to make a living from hunting, while seducing a teasing furrier, earning the respect of her protective father, and learning the ways of the woodland animals that constantly outwit him. The most defiant of these animals are, of course, the hundreds of beavers, who enjoy tearing down the forest almost as much as they enjoy beating up the salesman.
Because these aren’t small animals: almost all woodland creatures are played by actors in costumes that were literally bought from Amazon. This level of stupidity runs throughout the film, which culminates with some surprisingly intense action, all scored to an upbeat tune.
The film itself is a fun, surprising slapstick comedy from start to end. Gags come faster than in a Shrek film, but never feel obvious, unlike the overbearing tone of stupidity. Hundreds of Beavers demands to be taken as a joke, with no message or subtext to be found. This is both a cause and a result of it being a black and white, mostly-silent film, with a plot that also feels at home in old-school movie making.
Tutorial level
Even though you would have to search hard to find a game described as a ‘silent slapstick comedy’, Hundreds of Beavers tells its story in a very similar way to modern video games. As a silent film, Hundreds of Beavers often uses video game shorthand to show its message, such as alarmed birds showing their shock with an exclamation mark above their heads, matched by a sound effect. While versions of this pre-date video games, the resemblance to Mario or The Legend of Zelda comes as no surprise, given that the director has listed both among its inspirations.
But to get to that stage, you have to make it through the tutorial. The title appears a full half-hour into the film, with all the action before then acting as an introduction to some of the main tools the salesman will use to win the day.
As an example, Jean learns that wolf-whistling will summon a small bird, who immediately tries to peck his head. Later, he learns to use this tool like a Mario power-up, using it to activate traps or save him from a sticky situation. Slowly, he builds an arsenal of tools to overcome his enemies, gearing up to beat his final boss.
Grinding skills
Every joke set up in the “tutorial” becomes a tool for the protagonist later on, with the only difference being the knowledge of how to use it. This mirrors how games like Outer Wilds or The Witness approach game design, and just like the powers in an immersive sim such as Bioshock or Dishonored, many of these powers interact with each other in useful ways.
Whenever there seems to be no way forward for the salesman-turned-trapper, it can only mean you have forgotten one of these running gags, just as getting stuck in a game often means there is an unlock waiting for you further down the main path.
The gamification of Hundreds of Beavers is never more obvious than at the in-film shop. Early on, the main character learns what tools he can buy, with each tool helping to unlock the next. Progress through the film, just as in a game, is marked by how pelts the main character can gather, with a handy on-screen counter keeping track.
More pelts means more tools and new gags, and during the film the salesman-turned-trapper moves from hopelessly outmatched to massively overpowered, crushing the same enemies that once stood in his way. All of this plays like any role-playing game, where high-levelled characters return to crush the enemies that used to torment them.
Later, some sections play like a stealth game, with the main character learning guard patterns and methods of approach before making his move. These affectionate hints to various game genres can make the film feel like a tribute to games, which only become clearer as the viewer progresses.
Gameplay loops
With no spoken words and sparing use of on-screen text, the plot is kept clear with graphics, referenced like an in-game map and quest log seen in so many modern games.
At one point, the loop of the film is mapped out to resemble a roguelike dungeon crawler. Trapper Jean chooses his path through the world like playing Slay the Spire, with icons for fights and encounters with friends, offering rewards and skills for Jean to cash in at the shop at the end of each run.
Eventually, just as in a roguelike, Jean overcomes his greatest enemy and breaks the loop. Here, he wins the respect of the shopkeeper and his daughter, as well as a key victory over the local wildlife. While Jean can then retire, Hundreds of Beavers feels like it might be the start of something.
Other films have taken inspiration from games without being total adaptations, but Hundreds of Beavers feels like a glimpse into the future, both in how it uses the rules of games, and how to make a distinctly traditional style of film feel up to date and approachable for both adults and children – with the exception of that one scene.
As good as it is, the low-key release schedule will keep Hundreds of Beavers from redefining the language of cinema. However, the more recent success of Gints Zilbalodis’ Flow shows the reminds us of a lesson most famously taught by Mr Bean: the widest appeal comes with the fewest words.
While Hundreds of Beavers leans on a new kind of language, the rapid change of gaming trends may leave it looking more dated in coming years. However, this would be quite an achievement for a black-and-white silent comedy released this decade, so perhaps Hundreds of Beavers will simply continue its steady march toward the endgame.
Hundreds of Beavers is available on Amazon and Apple TV, and is currently showing in screens nationwide, but only occasionally: don’t miss out!