Cherrypicker

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.

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.

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...

I actually liked this movie. The girls acted well enough especially Rosie. The storyline was intriguing. Nice ending. Watch it! Its not boring at all.

Four adorably blonde haired, blue eyed little girls mistake their widowed mother's rough sex play with her retired hockey player lover for a criminal assault by the latter, and accordingly determine to kill him.

A Lolita-ish baby sitter annoys them too.

The filmmakers were probably inspired by 1956's "The Bad Seed," which - unlike "Ankle Biters" - was primarily a serious psychological drama. It also had much more distinguished acting performances than this relatively frivolous exercise.

Nevertheless the frivolity is highly entertaining even though the final twist is not merely dark but jet black. But after all, it is a horror movie, albeit mostly a funny one.