Over the past few years, we’ve been seeing an increasing number of independently produced movies that are able to compete with Hollywood blockbusters at a fraction of the cost — or at least, that’s the underdog story that the media likes to tell. The truth is, the price of high quality filmmaking equipment has come down to a level where just about anyone can afford it, but the talent isn’t always there to back it up. Just look at the endless number of forgettable fan films that have been unleashed on the web. Sure, it’s impressive what some of these people can do with no money and no experience, but you’re fooling yourself if you think they are ready for prime time.

Enter Lazy Teenage Superheroes, a new short film by Michael Ashton, a visual effects guy who has worked on such Hollywood films as Swing Vote and Soul Surfer. The short was reportedly made for just $300, and it is chock full of superpowered fights and eye-popping action sequences. While some people are saying that the acting, writing and special effects are already better than Kick-Ass, Heroes, No Heroics and the many other movies and TV shows that it clearly draws inspiration from, I wouldn’t go quite that far. Still, I won’t deny that it’s fun to see what they’ve done with such a limited budget, and hey, at least it’s relatively original as opposed to a cheesy fan film. Of course, now that this thing has become a massive hit on YouTube, how long will it be before a studio steps in and asks Ashton to do a feature-length version? Watch Lazy Teenage Superheroes after the jump and see what you think.