In an unsettling, timeless, fairy tale reality, during a period of pestilence, young Gretel (Sophia Lillis) and Hansel (Samuel Leakey) are driven out of their home by their deranged, widowed, mother (Fiona O'Shaughnessy), and told to fend for themselves.
Wandering through the neverending forest, they meet a helpful huntsman, (Charles Babalola), who directs them towards a community of wood workers who will take them in.
However, before they get there, they are distracted by the sweet smell of cake coming from a lovely, isolated, house, where they encounter a kindly old woman (Alice Krige), who offers them food and board.
Soon, they have fallen under the spell of the woman's generosity, even though Gretel - who is gifted with 'second sight' - is initially quite cynical and paranoid.
Wandering through the neverending forest, they meet a helpful huntsman, (Charles Babalola), who directs them towards a community of wood workers who will take them in.
However, before they get there, they are distracted by the sweet smell of cake coming from a lovely, isolated, house, where they encounter a kindly old woman (Alice Krige), who offers them food and board.
Soon, they have fallen under the spell of the woman's generosity, even though Gretel - who is gifted with 'second sight' - is initially quite cynical and paranoid.
Gretel's mood seems to change, though, when the woman reveals herself to be a witch and starts teaching Gretel how to master her craft.
Unfortunately for Gretel, Hansel has started to get itchy feet by this point and wants to move on.
Then he disappears.
We all know the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel, and Rob Hayes's script captures the mood of this old story perfectly, building on it and tying in Gretel's journey into womanhood and the 'burden' of being a surrogate mother to Hansel.
Tapping into similar vibes as both Hagazussa and, to a lesser degree, The Witch, Gretel & Hansel is a languid, lyrical, art house rural horror yarn that most definitely won't appeal to everyone.
The primary emphasis is on mood and atmosphere, focussing largely, as it does, on just the main three characters (the lovely Jessica De Gouw, from Pennyworth, Arrow, and Underground, does pop up as a different face of the witch on occasion).
Beautifully directed by Oz Perkins, rather than an epic action film, Gretel & Hansel is a small coming-of-age narrative told through the slightly disorientating lens of magic realism.
There's no particular depth, beyond what is obvious, but that's no bad thing when retelling a well-known fairy story in this grounded style.
Unfortunately for Gretel, Hansel has started to get itchy feet by this point and wants to move on.
Then he disappears.
We all know the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel, and Rob Hayes's script captures the mood of this old story perfectly, building on it and tying in Gretel's journey into womanhood and the 'burden' of being a surrogate mother to Hansel.
Tapping into similar vibes as both Hagazussa and, to a lesser degree, The Witch, Gretel & Hansel is a languid, lyrical, art house rural horror yarn that most definitely won't appeal to everyone.
The primary emphasis is on mood and atmosphere, focussing largely, as it does, on just the main three characters (the lovely Jessica De Gouw, from Pennyworth, Arrow, and Underground, does pop up as a different face of the witch on occasion).
Beautifully directed by Oz Perkins, rather than an epic action film, Gretel & Hansel is a small coming-of-age narrative told through the slightly disorientating lens of magic realism.
There's no particular depth, beyond what is obvious, but that's no bad thing when retelling a well-known fairy story in this grounded style.