GRETEL AND HANSEL – “Gorgeously grim, albeit undercooked”

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RATING

DIRECTOR

Oz Perkins (The Blackcoat's Daughter– 2015)

STARRING

  • Sophia Lillis as Gretel
  • Sam Leakey as Hansel
  • Charles Babalola as The Hunter
  • Alice Krige as Holda / The Witch
  • Jessica De Gouw as Young Holda / The Witch

SYNOPSIS

Is based on the German folklore tale Hänsel and Gretel by the Brothers Grimm. 

A long time ago in a distant fairytale countryside, a young girl leads her little brother into a dark wood in desperate search of food and work, only to stumble upon a nexus of terrifying evil.

REVIEW SUMMARY

Oz Perkin's Gretel and Hansel is gorgeously grim, albeit undercooked. It’s safe to say that the true star of this film is its production design, in that it’s dark, chilling, and oh so delightfully creepy (enough to make Tim Burton jealous). The hypnotic world this movie takes place in is without question something that will take your breath away. Unfortunately, that’s perhaps the only thing. You see, the story loses its way around the mid-way point and ultimately feels lacking, as if taken out of the proverbial creative oven too early. Sure, there are some interesting things being done with the Gretel character, playing with the theme of female power (hence the title reversal), but it’s all lacking meat on the bone. The other thing the film falls short on is, well, actual frights. And at around 90 minutes, this tedious excursion feels a lot longer, with only a handful of moments of “action." But, with only 3 films under his belt, Perkins definitely proves he’s got a feel for the genre. Here’s hoping his next horror film is more in line with a 10 star feast of fear, and not so much a plate of half-baked potential.

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