Sean Chase is dead. As played by Suicide Squad stuntman Zion Forrest Lee, the “beloved party animal and jackass womanizing pro hockey fuckboy” is laid to rest in the beginning minutes of Ankle Biters. How he got to his grave takes up the remainder and majority of this utterly wicked Canadian comedy.
Five months earlier, retired from the ice after a broken neck, Sean uncharacteristically wants to settle down with his gorgeous girlfriend, a young widow named Laura (a winning Marianthi Evans, Max Payne). In fact, he plans to propose to her at a romantic weekend at his lake house. The only obstacle is Laura’s four tag-along daughters (real-life Reid sisters Lily Gail, Rosalee, Violet and Dahlia): Try as Sean might, they hate him.
When they mistake Mom’s moans and bruises — both the result of sexual pleasure — for domestic abuse, their dislike of Sean festers to all-out war. His resulting tête-à-tête with the tots is like Problem Child times four (except funny) and infinitely more cynical. The girls are adorable, but don’t be fooled as every character is, Laura included; they’re devious monsters — juvenile delinquents with juice boxes.
A comedy as dark as its home country’s flag is red and white, Ankle Biters (aka Cherrypicker, which means zip out of context) marks the first feature for Bennet De Brabandere, who wrote the script from a story by leading man Lee (who, fun fact, is the son of Abraxas: Guardian of the Universe creator Damian Lee). Because their movie doesn’t have to cater to a family audience — or any audience, really — they relish the freedom to be savage.
I was with them almost all the way. You may not like where it goes, but as it crosses the line of good taste — once, twice, three times, who’s counting? — you certainly can’t accuse it of wussing out. —Rod Lott