Film Review: ZOMBEAVERS (2014)

 ZOMBEAVERS (2014) USA 1hr 17mins

Director: Jordan Rubin

"Hey man... you see that deer there?"-Luke (passenger)

"Yeah, I see it..."-Joseph (driver) whilst on his phone,

"I don't think you do"-Luke after Joseph hits the deer.

"Those things out there, they're not beavers" - Jenn

Three girlfriends; Jenn (Lexi Atkins), Zoe (Cortney Palm) and Mary (Rachel Melvin) go on a weekend getaway to Marys cousins cabin to get a break away from their boyfriends and civilisation. Little do they know that their goof ball boyfriends have followed them anyway. It's looking like the weekend could be a great party if it wasn't for the fact that earlier two bumbling employees from Mamaroneck Medical Facility lose a barrel of toxic chemicals off their truck which goes bobbing down the river stopping and springing a leak right in front of a beaver dam in Ashwood at the cabin the girls are staying at. The beavers get covered in toxic chemicals, die and reanimate into Zombeavers; flesh craving, violent, living dead beavers that hunt, terrorise and consume the residents of Ashwood.

Those of us that saw ZOMBEAVERS at it's time of release remember it well and it still holds up really well to people who are just discovering it. It reminds me of a mash up between BRAINDEAD (1992) and CABIN FEVER (2002) which I guess isn't that far fetched considering CABIN FEVER and ZOMBEAVERS share the same producers. ZOMBEAVERS is ridiculous and stupid whilst also being that little bit sexy. The characters are attractive people but not particularly likeable. You don't really care for them or their dramas so it's a good thing they don't focus on that too much. There is a bit of a cameo sequence for musician/actor John Mayer and comedian Bill Burr as the hapless Mamaroneck Medical facility duo, Joseph and Luke, that start this all off. There is also time to introduce the quirky locals that show up to disapprove of the girls various states of undress and generally to die horribly at the tippy- tappy feets of the Zombeavers! The body count is high and the beavers do not discriminate when it comes to their victims; kids, the elderly, even pets don't stand a chance.

The Zombeavers, of course, absolutely steal the show, these critters get everywhere! They look really awesome with a kind of Cujo meets Church from PET SEMATARY vibe to them. They have the signature cloudy white zombie eyes and a general moth eaten, rotten appearance. They hunt in packs and even think ahead by cutting down trees to trap their prey. Not just this but something happens to the people that they bite, scratch or partially consume. The victims become a human/beaver zombie hybrid. Those infected turn within hours and lose their finger nails and teeth only to be replaced by claws and beaver teeth, their eyes turn white and they even grow a giant grotesque beaver tail!

The FX are predominantly practical and are really well done. From multiple beaver stabbings and decapitation to popping noggins and genitalia chomping there is plenty of gore to go round. Yes, it is littered with continuity errors, dumbed down dialogue and dick jokes but it's hugely entertaining and even has it's own theme song written by the script writers Jon and Al Kaplan and performed by LA crooner Nick Amado. It's not just humans that get the full Zombeaver treatment either, keep your eyes peeled for a very unfortunate bear and make sure you watch all the way through the end credits for a (yet to materialise) potential sequel teaser!

ZOMBEAVERS is available in most formats nowadays be it Prime Video, DVD or Blu Ray so check it out if you haven't already. It is not the worst zombie movie out there, it sure is a bit different and a whole lot of fun. The cast and crew looked like they were having a blast making this and I like the fact that they include the outtakes in the end credits. I score ZOMBEAVERS 3.5 brains out of 5!