10 Underrated Movies (That Were Just Misunderstood)
2. Tale Of Tales
Tale of Tales is a combination of three twisted fairy tales based on works by Italian poet Giambattista Basile. The three tales are La Cerva Fatata (The Enchanted Doe), La Pulce (The Flea), La Vecchia Scorticata (The Flayed Old Lady).
In The Enchanted Doe, you have a forlorn King and Queen, who are so desperate for children they'll happily slay a giant sea serpent and then get a Virgin to cook the heart for them. Watching the Queen devour the heart is one of the most disturbing yet fantastical things, yet it's not the most disturbing scene in this film.
In The Flayed Old Lady, a sex-crazed King hears a beautiful voice and is determined to bed the exotic female, but little does he know that she is an elderly woman. Finally, in The Flea, you have a King that's a little unhinged, to say the least. He devotes his time and affection to a flea, and makes it his pride and joy; while sending his daughter away to marry an ogre. Yikes.
Reviews state that there are obvious lessons embedded in the film, but they feel that the morals of the original stories are lost, while many critics call the film out for its lack of substance. Tale of Tales has a uniqueness unlike any other fantasy movie, and with its bizarreness comes a touch of realism.
The film follows three women in their current stages of life, showcasing their obsessions and desires, be it wanting children, reclaiming their youth, or longing for their first love. All three are basic human desires and are substantial enough to carry the film while relating to the viewer and for them to feel the morality of the tales.