‘Gretel and Hansel’: Beautiful but undercooked

By Catherine Hadley-Engstrom
Staff Writer

Grade: B-

See it if: You love arthouse horror, “Suspiria” was your jam

Skip it if: A slow burn doesn’t suit you, you crave a jump-scare

We know Grimm’s classic tale of two abandoned children in the woods, stumbling upon a witch’s abode. In this darker version of the tale, the woods are even more treacherous than we remembered.

Sent to the woods when their mother descends into madness, Gretel and Hansel must find their own way in the cold, dangerous forest. They discover a home in woods and are invited inside for a warm meal from Holda (Alice Krige), a woman with black fingers and black teeth. But it’s not long before the siblings start to suspect that Holda’s generosity and mysterious behavior are part of an evil plan.

“Gretel and Hansel” never offers up the jump-scares the trailers sell it on, but offers a slow-burn of terror that doesn’t always twist the way you expect it to. Gretel, played by Sophia Lillis (“I.T.,” “Sharp Objects”) has to keep a close eye on Hansel (Samuel Leakey), who is seemingly oblivious to the dangers around him. At the same time, she must keep herself safe from a different set of dangers involving older men and the promise of power. Deep down, “Gretel and Hansel” is a coming of age story, about a young woman growing into her own power.

Oz Perkins could be our generation’s Argento (“Suspiria,” “Deep Red”) with his amazingly dark and moody sets. His masterful use of bold colors, luring the eyes to where he wants on the screen, is in full force during “Gretel and Hansel.”

However, the narration over-explains the plot, taking the audience out of the movie.

“Gretel and Hansel” suffers from the same issues that “The Blackcoat’s Daughter” did, Perkins’ other film—it features a beautiful backdrop without a fully cooked plotline.