Spoilers Alert:
In the new screen interpretation of the well-known Grimm fairy tale, the focus is primarily on Gretel, who is herself blessed with supernatural powers. But that is the only argument for the horror fairy tale GRETEL & HANSEL? We reveal this and more in our review.
Gretel (Sophia Lillis) and Hansel (Sammy Leakey) rush to help a burning house.
Not only in terms of content, but also in terms of staging, “Gretel & Hänsel” couldn’t be further from Tommy Wirkola’s witch hunt action. Its dark, dramatic foundation is continued in the design. Cameraman Galo Olivares (who worked on Alfonso Cuarón’s masterpiece “Roma”) doesn’t always find the right balance of darkness and brightness during the interior shots, so it’s sometimes difficult to see what’s actually going on inside the witch’s house. With wonderfully saturated colors and always slightly shifted perspectives, he creates absolute discomfort when the two small children roam through the seemingly never-ending forest. The well-known motif of the witch’s house attracting children is not needed in this ominous environment; Gretel and her brother are so desperate that a roof over their heads (and a friendly homeowner) is enough for them to come back. Although the subsequent cat-and-mouse game between the siblings and the witch drags on from time to time, the opposite siege is still pleasing. It does add to the tension when it’s not a safe victim and the perpetrator who suddenly come face to face, but rather two potential perpetrators. It’s a shame that it wasn’t enough to flesh out Hansel’s character a little more.
Conclusion: “Gretel & Hansel” is an exciting new interpretation of the well-known fairy tale, which surprises with some new perspectives, but occasionally drags on. A surprising resolution can largely compensate for this.
“Gretel & Hansel” will soon be released in USA cinemas.
