Here’s something you don’t see every day: a lurid, anti-porn anime from Denmark featuring live-action sequences and a vengeful cartoon missionary beating sex industry bigwigs to a bloody pulp. Debut Danish filmmaker Anders Morgenthaler takes us on a scuzzy tour of the red light district as irate God-botherer August (voiced by Thure Lindhardt) punishes the men responsible for his porn star sister’s death – while trying to raise his sexually abused five-year-old niece. Despite its rabidly conservative grot-bashing stance, Princess is actually deeply prurient, revelling in its sleazy moments: some live action, others mercifully animated (like a pregnant woman being spit roasted, or a toddler miming blowjobs). Still, the schizo mix of righteous anger and sentimental fantasy suggests Morgenthaler should forget about flaying the filth-farmers. He’s clearly got his own issues to work on first.
DVD Extras: Film notes, Trailer.
