From the frozen north comes a comedy/horror so "horrible" that it sat on the shelf for two years and was given a name change. Hi-concept films (young children misinterpret love-making as a threat to their mother -- and seek retaliation) barely work for the SNL crowd, so this one was pushing the envelope even before filming started. Colin Mochrie, once considered one of Canada's best improv artists, seems lost here, as does most of the picture-perfect, airbrushed, cast. If you keep in mind that many Canadian projects enjoy government subsidies, the true source of the horror will become that much clearer.
10 Reviews
Not the worst film ever...but fails to stick the landing.
dahazard13 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
*Incredibly mild spoilers*
Is the whole premise of the movie a little thin? Sure. But I've also seen multiple films about a kid's toy possessed by a serial killer, so I can let that slide.
The character development is far stronger than a lot of films of late. The little girls are both adorable and at times, pure evil. And, given that all four young actresses are siblings, there's a very real chemistry amongst them that a lot of child actors lack.
Sean, the protagonist, comes across as a great guy with a slightly checkered past...but I still wind up feeling worse and worse for him by the end of the film. Most of the other characters we see get at least enough screen time where they're not entirely one-dimensional.
Overall, I thought it was a very engaging film. Definitely gory, but left me wanting to see how thing panned out after the inevitable happens.
And that, unfortunately, is where I find the most fault with the film. Given the premise, half the movie is waiting to see how things happen...and finally getting to that point felt very...unsatisfying.
There were so many opportunities to make Sean's death look accidental, but instead, we're left with a crime scene where even the most hapless of police officers would have to consider the girls as suspects.
And, in the final scene of the film where some justice could be had...the writers instead take the ending into a complete nosedive of "WTF was that?".
Overall, it's not a complete waste of time...but if there were an alternate ending out there that made more sense...I'd definitely think more favorably about it.
Is the whole premise of the movie a little thin? Sure. But I've also seen multiple films about a kid's toy possessed by a serial killer, so I can let that slide.
The character development is far stronger than a lot of films of late. The little girls are both adorable and at times, pure evil. And, given that all four young actresses are siblings, there's a very real chemistry amongst them that a lot of child actors lack.
Sean, the protagonist, comes across as a great guy with a slightly checkered past...but I still wind up feeling worse and worse for him by the end of the film. Most of the other characters we see get at least enough screen time where they're not entirely one-dimensional.
Overall, I thought it was a very engaging film. Definitely gory, but left me wanting to see how thing panned out after the inevitable happens.
And that, unfortunately, is where I find the most fault with the film. Given the premise, half the movie is waiting to see how things happen...and finally getting to that point felt very...unsatisfying.
There were so many opportunities to make Sean's death look accidental, but instead, we're left with a crime scene where even the most hapless of police officers would have to consider the girls as suspects.
And, in the final scene of the film where some justice could be had...the writers instead take the ending into a complete nosedive of "WTF was that?".
Overall, it's not a complete waste of time...but if there were an alternate ending out there that made more sense...I'd definitely think more favorably about it.
A confused mess
ravencorinncarluk21 October 2021
The writers were THIS close to making dialogue that humans might actually say and behaviors that might be how people act. I mean, it was truly impressive to see that much effort put into almost hitting the mark. From the opening scene of Chase mutilating a player in a hockey match, I understood that I was watching something written by aliens posing as screenwriters.
This movie is neither a horror nor a black comedy. It tries to be either, but in a drunken way that just makes everyone involved seem desperate and kinda sad.
Characters are unlikable, though the little girls are kinda cute. The situations are ridiculous, and everyone seems to make the stupidest choices ever. We the viewers have to be told several times how good a mother she is, though all evidence points to the contrary. The score is always trying way too hard, and never really matches what's going on.
Even as background noise, this movie isn't good. Really should be only 2 stars, but the premise had a lot of potential in my opinion. Skip it, unless you really want to see for yourself how bad it is.
This movie is neither a horror nor a black comedy. It tries to be either, but in a drunken way that just makes everyone involved seem desperate and kinda sad.
Characters are unlikable, though the little girls are kinda cute. The situations are ridiculous, and everyone seems to make the stupidest choices ever. We the viewers have to be told several times how good a mother she is, though all evidence points to the contrary. The score is always trying way too hard, and never really matches what's going on.
Even as background noise, this movie isn't good. Really should be only 2 stars, but the premise had a lot of potential in my opinion. Skip it, unless you really want to see for yourself how bad it is.
Don't even bother with this one...
paul_haakonsen26 December 2021
At least the synopsis for this 2021 horror comedy sounded interesting. And it was that synopsis that lured me into watching "Cherrypicker" from writers Bennet De Brabandere and Zion Forrest Lee, because I hadn't even heard about the movie prior to sitting down to watch it. And with it being a horror comedy, and a movie that I hadn't already seen, of course I opted to watch "Cherrypicker".
Well, I suppose that the script was interesting enough on paper in order for director (and writer) Bennet De Brabandere to make it into a movie. And yeah, there were certainly aspects to the script and plot that had potential. But ultimately, then "Cherrypicker" was a swing and a miss, and it director Bennet De Brabandere completely failed to deliver a movie that proved interesting, entertaining or enjoyable to me.
In fact, I managed to suffer through about half of the ordeal, then I got up and opted to abandon the movie. And believe you me, this is not a movie that I will be returning to finish watching. Why? Well, simply because the storyline wasn't interesting or entertaining, and the characters written into the storyline were fairly bland, and also the acting performances were sort of mundane.
"Cherrypicker" was a swing and a miss. A shame really, because the synopsis definitely made the movie sound like something that could and would be a fun horror comedy to watch.
Now, I can't recommend you waste your time, money or effort on this particular movie.
My rating of "Cherrypicker" lands on a very generous two out of ten stars.
Well, I suppose that the script was interesting enough on paper in order for director (and writer) Bennet De Brabandere to make it into a movie. And yeah, there were certainly aspects to the script and plot that had potential. But ultimately, then "Cherrypicker" was a swing and a miss, and it director Bennet De Brabandere completely failed to deliver a movie that proved interesting, entertaining or enjoyable to me.
In fact, I managed to suffer through about half of the ordeal, then I got up and opted to abandon the movie. And believe you me, this is not a movie that I will be returning to finish watching. Why? Well, simply because the storyline wasn't interesting or entertaining, and the characters written into the storyline were fairly bland, and also the acting performances were sort of mundane.
"Cherrypicker" was a swing and a miss. A shame really, because the synopsis definitely made the movie sound like something that could and would be a fun horror comedy to watch.
Now, I can't recommend you waste your time, money or effort on this particular movie.
My rating of "Cherrypicker" lands on a very generous two out of ten stars.
Could have been played seriously, but instead was a family-hate condoning cartoon
mike-c-b30 December 2021
Children mistake parents sex for a violent attack on their mother and seek revenge. It would work in the 1990's with much changed direction, however in an age where 90% of porn is advertised to be violent, what this movie does is condone it, mix sex scenes with children playing, and make the children ultra violent as if it's funny. The man is then victimised like a cartoon character who only makes mistakes.
What the movie needs to do is highlight the problem by turning (once normal people) violent in the bedroom, including sick grinning, then show the effect on children outside the room and follow them as the new heros. The police can then sit them down and do word association tests about what family means, and what enemies mean...
What the movie needs to do is highlight the problem by turning (once normal people) violent in the bedroom, including sick grinning, then show the effect on children outside the room and follow them as the new heros. The police can then sit them down and do word association tests about what family means, and what enemies mean...
I enjoyed it!
kwclients5 July 2022
I thought it to be funny and over the top and it just wasn't that deep to give it lower stars. If you read the premise of the movie about 4 bad lil girls, all else is expected. So, enjoyed it my movie watchers were cracking up!
This movie is completely crazy
zalessky14 October 2021
Ankle Biters (or Cherrypicker) is a story about four little girls who set out on a quest to destroy their mother's love life and harm their future stepdad, Sean (Zion Forest Lee). And they do succeed in a spectacular fashion.
It starts as a spoiled child comedy and feels kinda innocent. The girls just put spider eggs in Sean's ear and put a pin in an apple he's supposed to eat. But then, well, everything goes sideways. There's gore and there's death.
I was not impressed by acting - except for the four little girls who were just great. The actresses are real-life sisters Dahlia Reed, Violet Reed, Lily Reed and Rosalie Reed, and they keep their real names in this movie. So, not much in terms of acting, and some poor dialogs. But camera work is good, and blood specal effects really deliver.
It's nuts, and it's fun.
It starts as a spoiled child comedy and feels kinda innocent. The girls just put spider eggs in Sean's ear and put a pin in an apple he's supposed to eat. But then, well, everything goes sideways. There's gore and there's death.
I was not impressed by acting - except for the four little girls who were just great. The actresses are real-life sisters Dahlia Reed, Violet Reed, Lily Reed and Rosalie Reed, and they keep their real names in this movie. So, not much in terms of acting, and some poor dialogs. But camera work is good, and blood specal effects really deliver.
It's nuts, and it's fun.
Weird fun
BandSAboutMovies16 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Originally known as Cherrypicker, which was probably too Canadian of a title, Ankle Biters totally took me by surprise and took me on a wild ride with four of the worst behaved kids since Who Can Kill a Child? Or Devil Times Five.
Sean, a hockey goon, has fallen in love with Laura, a widowed mother of four young daughters. When their rough arrdvarking alerts the kids that their mother is being hurt - spoiler she isn't and it's just roleplay - they plan to protect her no matter what it takes. And what it takes is murder after murder.
Comedy fans will recognize Colin Mochrie as Detective Morton, but otherwise this young cast was all new to me and they excel in all of their roles. There are some shocking moments here from start to finish and at no time was I bored or taken out of the story. In fact, I had a blast and I'd recommend that if you have an open mind, aren't easily offended and are ready to be taken aback, get this movie and indulge yourself.
The only person I feel bad for is Sean, because the guy means well. His meaning well just makes things worse. And worse. And then even worse.
Sean, a hockey goon, has fallen in love with Laura, a widowed mother of four young daughters. When their rough arrdvarking alerts the kids that their mother is being hurt - spoiler she isn't and it's just roleplay - they plan to protect her no matter what it takes. And what it takes is murder after murder.
Comedy fans will recognize Colin Mochrie as Detective Morton, but otherwise this young cast was all new to me and they excel in all of their roles. There are some shocking moments here from start to finish and at no time was I bored or taken out of the story. In fact, I had a blast and I'd recommend that if you have an open mind, aren't easily offended and are ready to be taken aback, get this movie and indulge yourself.
The only person I feel bad for is Sean, because the guy means well. His meaning well just makes things worse. And worse. And then even worse.
Pretty nice picture
lilpest927 September 2022
Explores childish potential for extreme violence. The four leads are actual sisters and very cute and quite spoopy. Takes place at a nice lake so there's plenty of fun swimming fun. Including the other girl, Mattia, who in the male lead's words has become "jailbait". Its not great, some scenes drag or don't go anywhere. Needed more scenes with the little girl leads, maybe something to differentiate any of them besides "she's the younger one". The effects look fine for what there is of them.
I docked it points because there is a long shot on a pack of cigarettes clearly inserted just to promote smoking. Didn't give it a 1 because they aren't shown to be used.
I docked it points because there is a long shot on a pack of cigarettes clearly inserted just to promote smoking. Didn't give it a 1 because they aren't shown to be used.
Quite a nice movie
zara-jane-qadry1 November 2021
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