Poison for the Fairies (Veneno para las hadas)
1985
Director- Carlos Enrique Taboada
Cast- Ana Patricia Rojo, Elsa María Gutiérrez
From Mexico
This
charming tale from Mexico follows the relationship between two elementary
school age girls, Veronica and Flavia. Veronica is raised by an older nanny who
tells her stories about witchcraft. Rather than being scared, Veronica is
fascinated. Flavia is raised by rich parents who have instilled a sense of
skepticism about the supernatural. Both are classmates in a parochial school.
Veronica
tells Flavia that she is a witch. Flavia is incredulous but Veronica begins to
create doubt in Flavia’s mind after her piano teacher suffers a stroke.
Veronica cultivates a relationship with Flavia, partly through piquing Flavia’s
curiosity and partly through intimidation.
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Veronica develops a plan to brew
poison for the fairies that she says are living around them and enlists Flavia’s
aid in acquiring the ingredients. As their relationship continues, Veronica
becomes more domineering and abusive until things finally come to a head.
Despite the prevalence of witchcraft and the occult. Poison for the Faries is not really a scary film. It is a story about the power that belief has over us. In this regard it is similar to The Witches and The Juniper Tree. It is also a very realistic portrayal of child psychology. The viewer sees the world through Veronica and Flavia’s eyes, and as such, we never know for certain what is real verses a child’s exaggeration. The movie focuses entirely on the two girls. Adult characters, when present, are faceless, much like the adults in a Peanuts cartoon. It also broaches the uncomfortable subject of evil in children. Can a person already be “bad” at a young age?
An
intelligent film that is horror, not because of any particular imagery, but because
of its unsettling look into the minds of children. There is no sex or profanity
so its also totally appropriate for any younger viewers who are mature enough
to appreciate its themes.
Still want more: Check out Don’t Deliver Us from Evil, a more grown up, and salacious, examination of similar themes of occult belief in adolescents.
