Nobody’s hiding how weird and grotesque Tale of Tales is going to be, and oh how delectable it looks.
The adult fairy tale has become a well-used genre of late, and while most draw from the toned down Disney versions or the more bloody Grimm style, there’s a host of other sources out there for filmmakers to start from. Taking that less crowded route is Tale of Tales, which is based on a 17th century Neapolitan collection by Giambattista Basile.
I’m not sure what was going on in Naples at the time to make its people imagine heart chewing and flea cuddling, but there’s something delightful about seeing our species demented side brought to life with such lavish production values. Too often these fairy tales end up pulling their punches, but everything about Tale of Tales indicates that it’s going to deliver with grand style. If that’s not your thing, then feel free to move along. The rest of us want to squirm a bit.
Tale of Tales is directed by Matteo Garrone and stars Salma Hayek, Vincent Cassel, Toby Jones, and John C. Reilly. It will be released in the U.S. in theaters and on demand on April 22nd, 2016 and in the U.K. on July 1st, 2016. For international release dates, click here.
How far do you like your fairy tales to go? Let us know in the comments!
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