Osgood Perkins directs a new take on the hold fairytale of
Hansel and Gretel in his film Gretel and Hansel (2020). In the tradition of the recent hit The Witch
(2015) and Perkins’ own I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House (2016),
Gretel and Hansel is a film built on atmosphere and mood rather than suspense
and fright.
Gretal and her younger brother Hansel (Sophia Lillis and
Samuel Leakey, respectfully) are thrown out of their home when their mother declares
there is no more food for them to survive.
Now they find themselves wondering the woods on their way to a new town
in order to start a new life but then they come across a home in the middle of
the woods which they believe is uninhabited. But when they enter into the home they come
across food and drink and treats of all kinds.
They soon discover the woman inhabiting the house (Alice Krige) has been
there a very long time. Gretel manages
to convince the woman to allow them to stay at the house as long as they help
around the house. As their stay looms
on, Gretel soon starts to realize that the woman is more than she appears and
that she might be a witch. She also
starts to experience strange and usual dreams that consume her and leaves her
with the impression that she is where she should be.
The Witch goes about teaching Gretel about her ways but at
the same time Hansel begins to question everything around them believing that
they been their long enough but can he get the courage to convince his sister
to leave before they are both consumed by the Witch’s power?
Cinematographer Galo Olivares and art director Christine
McDonagh’s contributions cannot be overlooked in this moody and atmospheric
film. The look of the film is fantastic
but some audiences that may not be enough as it dispenses with suspense and any
real horror elements for the most part.
I will have to say that Krige (as usual) steels every scene she is in
and the film is worth watching for her performance alone. If you’re fan of Osgood’s films then you’ll
enjoy this one as it showcases a promising talent who wants to craft a different
type of horror film.
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