Gretel & Hansel (2020)
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Two siblings fleeing poverty in the woods stumble upon a cottage inhabited by a witch who offers them a sinister apprenticeship in witchcraft.
The story
Following the death of their father, siblings Gretel and Hansel are sent out by their mother to find work. After being rejected by a potential employer and fleeing their mother's threats, the children wander into the woods. They eventually discover a cottage belonging to a woman named Holda, who invites them in for a meal and offers them a place to stay in exchange for labor. While Hansel begins work as a woodcutter, Gretel becomes increasingly suspicious of Holda's nature, plagued by disturbing visions and nightmares as she is initiated into the secrets of witchcraft.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The story begins with a prologue about a baby girl with supernatural abilities who becomes a murderer and is imprisoned in the woods by her village. In the present, teenage Gretel and her younger brother Hansel are sent into the forest by their mother to find work. After a series of encounters, they find a cottage owned by Holda, who offers them shelter in exchange for work. Hansel is tasked with woodcutting, while Gretel performs housework. Holda recognizes Gretel's latent abilities and begins teaching her witchcraft. However, Hansel discovers a satanic pentagram and becomes wary. Holda, revealed to be the mother of the wicked girl from the prologue, lures Hansel into a trap to eat him to gain magical powers. She drugs Gretel and prepares to cook Hansel over a fire pit. Gretel manages to free herself, uses flying ointment to levitate a staff, and pins Holda against a wall, burning her to death. The next morning, Gretel sends Hansel home, while she remains behind to hone her craft, eventually seeing the ghosts of the children Holda murdered. In the final moments, her fingertips begin to turn black.
- Original title
- Gretel & Hansel: A Grim Fairy Tale
- First release year
- 2020
- Runtime (minutes)
- 87
- Production countries
- Canada; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Osgood Perkins
- Writers
- Rob Hayes · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Sophia Lillis · Gretel; Sam Leakey · Hansel; Alice Krige · Holda; Jessica De Gouw · young Holda; Charles Babalola · Huntsman; Fiona O'Shaughnessy · Mother; Donncha Crowley · Master Stripp; Melody Carrillo · Enchantress
- Genres
- dark fantasy; horror; coming-of-age
- Themes
- witchcraft; survival; sibling bonds; revenge
- Tone and mood
- dark; eerie; atmospheric; leisurely
- Premise and plot tags
- folklore; supernatural; cannibalism; filicide; patricide
- Content notes
- witchcraft
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for its visuals and cinematography as well as the horror elements and acting, but criticism for its pacing and screenplay.
- Production trivia
- The title was changed to focus on Gretel.; Sam Leakey made his acting debut in this film.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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