Gretel and Hansel (2020)
Written By: DMG
Edited By: Grave Reviews Staff
Film Information
Director: Oz Perkins
Producer: Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Fred Berger
Screenplay by Rob Hayes
Based on: Grimm’s Hansel and Gretel
Date Released: January 31, 2020
Cast:
Sophia Lillis as Gretel
Sam Leakey as Hansel
Alice Krige as Holda / The Witch
Jessica De Gouw as Young Holda
Charles Babalola as The Huntsman
Giulia Doherty and Beatrix Perkins (uncredited) as The Beautiful Child
Fiona O’Shaughnessy as the Mother
Donncha Crowley as Master Stripp
Melody Carrillo as the Enchantress
Rating = 2.5/5 Graves
***May contain some spoilers***
Synopsis
Gretel and Hansel is an adaptation of the classic Grimm’s fairytale story. Gretel and Hansel are two children that are kicked out of their home by their mother only to fend for themselves in the woods. As they are roaming the woods, they come across a house full of food and pastries. Caught by the owner of the home, an old woman the woman feeds and provide shelter to the two children. However, the appearance of hospitality and generosity by the old woman is a cover for a much darker and sinister purpose. When Gretel realizes what is really happening, she must try to escape the old woman with her brother before it is too late.
Gore Factor
There are a variety of scenes which depicts severed limbs and other body parts. The film incorporates a series of disturbing and unsettling scenes which may not be outright gory but is certainly eerie. The most grotesque scene is when the witch turns human body parts into supposedly delicious food.
The Grave Reviews
Gretel and Hansel from the start is not the best annotation to date. The story is slow at times and confusing most of the time. As the story unfolds, much of the backstory is told to the viewer. But the story doesn’t really make sense as they are trying to piece together why something is happening and how it relates to the characters in the present time. Another disappointing factor in the story is that Gretel and Hansel was not true to the original fairytale. There was an ad an element that Gretel developed which powers which took away from the original terror of the classic store we grew to love. As such, yhe biggest flaw with this adaptation is by far the story.
The film is shot in a very dark atmospheric environment. Although adding an element of mist or creepy woods does add an additional scare element, not much is happening during what should be climactic points in the film. It is in that way, that Gretal and Hansel fail to keep the viewers interest throughout the film.
However, the children as well as the witch performed admirably. Unfortunately, the acting is only as good as in script.
For the foregoing reasons, Grave Reviews gives Gretel and Hansel (2020) two graves out of five graves.
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