Veneno para las hadas

POISON FOR THE FAIRIES is the story of young Veronica (Ana Patricia Rojo), an apparent witch, and her schoolmate, Flavia (Elsa Maria Gutierrez), who reluctantly tags along while Veronica gets up to her occult mischief. Whether Veronica has any true powers or not, she is undoubtedly a psychopath. Flavia is tormented, and kept in fear by her overbearing friend.

The bulk of the film is taken up by the two girls' quest to gather the ingredients for the titular toxin. However, there is a death, as well as some other creepy moments. Both actresses are believable in their roles.

One interesting aspect is that no adult faces are ever shown. They're only shown from the waist down, from behind, or in darkness.

Not a bad little movie, just don't expect any broomstick races or magic wand showdowns.

The ending is satisfying and fitting...

"Veneno para las Hadas" succeeds in every term. The acting is good, expect a solid performance by a young Ana Patricia Rojo. There are some scary scenes, and the twisting end will shock you. Watch it if you wanna get scared. Recommended for fans of the horror genre.

I'm not sure how I would categorize this film, and I also don't know who I would recommend it for. It's slightly twisted, but only so. Much of the movie feels more like a drama centering on the friendship of two little girls. Eventually, they pull the rug out from that, but these kids aren't as messed as, say, the girls in "Do Not Deliver Us From Evil." Closer to a Mexican 1960's "Ghost World." So it's largely tame, but then throws in some elements that would really bother some people. I thought it was well worth a watch, but not for everyone.

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!!!

At first, Poison for the Fairies may remind American viewers of the classic "Wonderful World of Disney" feature films, leading some people to believe they have been tricked into watching a children's movie. However, it is not for children. It is instead an atmospheric, absorbing fairy tale about two little girls and their intense, unsettling friendship--if one can rightly call a relationship based on psychological dominance as "friendly." The plot is deceptively simple: Lonely, aristocratic Flavia comes to a new school, where she instantly grabs the attention of Veronica, a girl from a lower-class family, who pretends to be a witch in order to comfort herself for a lack of power in the real world. All the other girls have long since learned to ignore Veronica, but Flavia is just innocent enough to believe that Veronica truly is a witch, her beliefs helped along once several macabre coincidences seem to reinforce Veronica's claims that she possesses black magic. Gradually the line between childhood friendship and a master and slave is blurred, and Veronica's games of make-believe witchcraft have filled Flavia with a fear and despair that are far too real.

People who expect a traditional horror film will definitely be disappointed in Poison for the Fairies. The pace of the film, along with the lack of violence or even blood, may be too slow for some viewers to tolerate. Visually, the film looks dated, and certain stylistic techniques (particularly the lengths to which the camera goes in avoiding the faces of adults) seem a little hackneyed. But all in all, this is a film of culminating, creepy horror building to a shocking but inevitable denouement, and well worth a watch.