Red-Barracuda
This Mexican horror/fantasy is a tale told from a child's perspective, so much so that all of the adult characters in the story are only ever partially shown – an arm, a leg, a hand, etc. It's quite a good stylistic choice and creates very much a child's world. It focuses on two young girls who meet at a Catholic school, one of whom claims to be a witch. Events transpire to back this up somewhat and so both of them then go on an extended search for ingredients to make a poison that will kill fairies, who are traditional enemies of witches.This is quite far from being a straight horror film. Its focus on folklore aligns it more with the fantasy genre, while its coming-of-age central storyline is not always interested in the macabre. It is certainly an interesting work from a stylistic perspective, yet not much really happens in its runtime and it does consequently drag somewhat at times. Its punctuated by some dreamlike imagery of witches and the like and these add some atmosphere. But the feeling I had mainly was this was a film that never really maximised its potential. It has excellent ingredients, just not mixed in quite the right way.
brujavu
There are many things I liked about this film... the main thing being that everything that happens in the film is entirely plausible. To me, that is an essential ingredient for a good suspense film (I would not classify this as a horror film, which to me, implies a lot of slash and gore... although the film does open up with such a scene, it is incongruous with the rest of the story). Another thing that I really liked was the way that we never see the faces of the adults, and in fact, rarely see their heads. Most shots of the adults are of their feet and legs, sometimes their torsos. In this way, it's a bit reminiscent of watching a Charlie Brown cartoon. This technique allows us to focus on the children, and shows the adults as being peripheral to everything that is going on in the little girls' room. I think the main theme is bullying, and it shows how easily a relationship like this can be established, not just among children. I never had the idea that Flavia actually liked Veronica, but once she was convinced of Veroncia's powers (and again, this happened in a very convincing and plausible way), she was terrified of her and also felt beholden to her. I love the way that the offhand remarks that the adults make in response to the children's questions about witches, the devil, etc. form a part of the girls' psychological landscape, influencing their future actions. It is just such a chance conversation with her father that moves Flavia to take her final decisive action when she is threatened with separation from her beloved pet. A very atmospheric piece, with a lot of the action happening in broad daylight in very beautiful settings. My husband wandered into the room several times while I was watching it without ever suspecting that I was watching a "horror" film.
bensonmum2
As I sit and think about Poison for the Fairies, I realize that I may not being fair with the film. My rating of 3/10 may have more to do with my disappointment with the film than its actual quality or entertainment value. Based on the plot description, reviews on IMDb, and the 7.6 IMDb rating, I would sure that I had stumbled on a little known gem. Sadly, it just didn't do much for me. For whatever reason, Poison for the Fairies all but put me to sleep.Poison for the Fairies is the story of two young girls in 1965 Mexico City. One of the girls, Veronica, is a compulsive liar and tells her friend that she, Veronica, is a witch. The other girl, Flavia, is so gullible that she believes and is frightened by everything her friend tells her. That's really about it. In reality, nothing much happens and the film drags on and on as Veronica attempts to terrorize and dominate Flavia. One commenter on IMDb described it as "the scariest film in 80's Mexican cinema". My comment if that's the case, there must not have been many horror films made in Mexico in the 80s. Another commenter wrote, "Watch it if you wanna get scared." My comment are you sure we're talking about the same movie? My opinion is diametrically opposed to these examples I've given. To me, it was dull, uninspired, and poorly acted. The scene framing is especially annoying as director Carlos Enrique Taboada doesn't ever show the faces of any of the other characters. Veronica and Flavia carry-on long, drawn-out conversations with members of their families and their teacher, but we never actually see these peoples' faces. It's an annoying gimmick.
insomniac-rod
I'm a fan of horror flicks, and I must say that "Veneno para las hadas" is the scariest film in 80's Mexican cinema. Horror films were very popular at that time, films such as "Friday the 13th", "A Nightmare on Elm Street", "Halloween" -and their sequels- followed the same plot, you know a boogyman killing everyone around, except a virgin heroine. "Veneno para las hadas" has a flawless direction, some false scares, and very good acting; this movie is for those who believe in witchcraft, devil, and in good horror. That's it, go and rent it!!!
AD
