Krysar

A bit too long (even at only 52 minutes), but still an unforgettably surreal version of the classic Pied Piper story with a new karmic twist. Always pay the piper, folks.

I don't remember there being as much sexual assault in the story when my father read it to me when I was 5. And what's with all the hate for the town butcher? Sure, an axe to the forehead isn't the most humane of methods available when readying a cow for market, but he got the job done, and boy, were his sausages scrumptious. 9 out of 10 rats agree.

Heaven knows we all know this story, but it's embellished enough and well-done enough here to make it all work... plus it's done in that "wood and stone" aesthetic so unique to Eastern European movies. You can totally see why the rats here really would drive an entire town up the wall, too

For whatever reason, certain animated movies make me extraordinarily uncomfortable, but Krysar is the first that I've seen where I get the feeling it was done on purpose. If Ken Russell directed a Sims movie.

Disturbing fever dream of a movie. Somewhere between the stop-motion of Tim Burton and the expressionist sets of Caligiri.

Rats the size of otters have been infiltrating a town until a wooden man with a flute passes by. But will he be able to rid the town of all the rats, especially the ones in government? Although it plays a little long, this odd mix of stop-motion animation and German expressionist sets is pretty amazing to watch. (And who knew medieval men slept with butchers' knives next to their beds?)

Kunt u mij de weg naar Hamelen vertellen, mijnheer? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyJBwCZTW0g