Hands up all of those who never in a million years expect the Dirty Movie Devotee to review a kiddie flick ? Well, I guess the secret's out now. I do enjoy movies made for young audiences, as long as they don't treat youngsters like morons, the way most US major studio pap seems to do. This adaptation of a very popular children's book by local (Belgian) hot shot author Marc De Bel, of BLINKER fame (a series of highly readable novels which so far inspired two no better than okay film versions), is definitely a different kettle of fish...
Triplets Lien, Fien and Sien Kriegel are hellcats in the making, forever causing havoc at school and in their immediate surroundings with regular bouts of animal torture (relax, none of it actually shown), much to the indifference of their selfish mom and alcoholic dad. An involuntary arson leads to the girls' incarceration at the posh rehabilitation center of Doctor Vandenkerckhove (the inimitable Victor Löw from KARAKTER and IEDEREEN BEROEMD! making a meal out of this eminently hiss-able villain). Though the young charges are pampered around the clock, their snooping leads to some VERY disturbing conclusions as to the reasons behind the bruises on the other children's backs. To reveal more to anyone unfamiliar with the book would be a cardinal sin...
Let's not mince words here. DE ZUSJES KRIEGEL is very much a horror movie, regardless of being aimed at pre-teen audiences. It touches on some very touchy subject matter (nope, I'm not telling...), which might be one of the reasons local critics sharpened their knives when this movie hit Belgian theaters just in time for the Easter holidays. I for one believe that young children can and frequently do deal with possibly emotionally scarring material. To do so in context of a movie merely arms to better deal with similar problems in real life. It's not as if Disney ever gave youngsters an easy ride, killing off Bambi's mommy early on. And fairy tales have inspired some of the most nightmarish mental images known to man (or, indeed, child). This movie merely recycles many of the classic fairytale motifs concerning witches and other assorted villains. Its storyline won't offend anyone's intelligence levels with logical dramatic progress, a trio of engaging, distinctly non-cutesy female heroines (who don't turn that way at film's end either, thank goodness) and some mighty fine set pieces like a bus accident and the humdinger of a climax. Elegantly ominous soundtrack by Hans Helewaut creates a palpable sense of dread throughout. Acting has some rough spots as far as the three girls are concerned but at least they have solid screen presence. I hope this one rakes in the dough so Beliën can start working on a sequel.
