This was a favourite of mine when I was a kid and it's still a haunting and beautiful story. This adaption of Lindgren's story (which I owned too) has to be considered a success (if not wholly a triumph). In our sanitised world, a children's film that contains death, loss, pain, illness, treachery and sacrifice seems strangely out of place. It takes a heart of stone not to tear up not even 5 minutes into the film, and again at the end. In my opinion, children are very well capable of bearing the weight of death, in story as well as in real life. Maybe they have to be accompanied, but keeping such themes from them makes for a poorer education. The film itself still holds up remarkably well. The sets, the horses and the outdoor scenes are beautiful. The costumes are rather laughable and the monster looks as if escaped from Spectro-Man, but at the point where we first see it you're so deep inside the story it really doesn't matter much. The camera-work is simple, but effective. The acting is so-so, but mostly adequate. The music isn't good except for a few moments where it's really gripping.
I heard that there's a new adaption of this book in development, and while I'm curious as to what better production values and a professional soundtrack can do for the story, I wish they'll stay with the dark and haunting mood and maybe even incorporate more of the book.
