Also known as Cherrypicker, filmmaker Bennet De Brabandere's black comedy commences with a dynamic rock-and-roll credit sequence of an arena-hockey brawl that leaves a torn-out eyeball on the ice. And if one hopes that things will get nicer after that, one probably is not the intended audience for the sardonic, take-no-prisoners farce.
Sean Chase (Zion Forrest Lee) is the attacker in the aforementioned Canadian hockey brawl, who somehow maintains a fan following despite the bloody opener. He now is in a passionate romantic relationship with zaftig widow Laura (Marianthi Edwards), who comes already with four adorable-looking little girls (portrayed by the four real-life Reid sisters), who are suspicious of the new man in their mom's life. Fortunately, Sean and Laura have a close emotional bond: they both like rough S&M stuff in the bedroom.
At a lakeside idyll where Sean intends to propose marriage to Laura, the tots are horrorstruck to find the couples' homemade sex video. Led by alpha sister Rosalie (Rosalie Reid), who is showing a precocious cruelty streak, the children conspire against Sean, and see an opportunity via their new babysitter Matia (Matia Jackett), a Lolita-ish adolescent neighbor (whose relationship with Sean may not be all that healthy either).
Early scenes of a cemetery service portend that this will not end well at all, but viewers may still wind up aghast at how dark and gruesome things do get. Actors are all on the mark (especially the spooky kids), but nihilistic gore-satires such as this always must strike a creative balancing act between the daring and the merely distasteful, and Ankle Biters pushes a few hot buttons, in addition to the envelope. Collections could consider this strong optional purchase as a potential cult item. Aud: P.