Gretel & Hansel

Starring: Sophia Lillis, Samuel Leakey, Alice Krige, Jessica De Gouw, Fiona O'Shaughnessy, Donncha Crowley, Jonathan Gunning, Charles Babalola
Directed by: Oz Perkins
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Horror, Mystery
2020

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Two children (Sophia Lillis, Samuel Leakey) venture into the woods where they run afoul of a dangerous witch (Alice Krige).

Review:

Tim: Oz Perkins' Gretel & Hansel is an interesting film. It's an artsy horror film that puts a slight spin on the old Grimm Fairy Tale. It ultimately doesn't connect or entertain as much as it should have, but I found the film to be a decent viewing experience. It doesn't pack a bit enough punch or quite differentiate itself adequately, but there's a few things to like about the film.

First off, this is very much an artistic horror film. The narrative feels like it often comes second. The film is a short 1 hour, 27 minutes, but Perkins never feels compelled to move the story along very quickly. We get many long shots and slow, measured actions. He's content to let the camera linger. This does a few things. On the unfortunate side, it causes the film to drag on. It feels plodding and agonizingly slow at times. I was frustrated with the pace of the film and it did elicit some feelings of boredom. This is a horror movie, but is takes a long time to get to any frightening parts. Even when the horror starts, there's too much downtime. It's a short movie, but it feels too long. That absolutely hurts the film. Now, on the other hand, that lack of urgency does allow Perkins to craft some beautifully shot scenes. That's the positive.

Gretel & Hansel's visual effects are the greatest strength of the film. There's so many incredibly filmed sequences- whether that's the mysterious cloaked figures lurking in the woods, or the use of light and color, a few interesting computer-generated visual effects, the movie's cinematography and look were highlights. It feels like you're watching an artist depict this story. I really loved that aspect of the film. The problem is that the artistic view comes at the expense of the story. The movie needed to build more momentum, not to meander in the middle. I wouldn't suggest skimping on the impressive visuals, but the story component needed a lot of work.

I thought the cast worked well. I've been increasingly impressed with Sophia Lillis. I think she has a unique look and approach to her characters. She brings intelligence and restrained warmth to this role. There's something compelling about watching her act- she simultaneously shows strength and vulnerability. She gives an impressive performance here, more than carrying the movie. Samuel Leakey is solid as Hansel, but he's definitely in Lillis' shadow. I thought they worked well together and were believable as siblings. Alice Krige is a serious scene stealer as the Witch. Her performance is uncomfortable, incredibly creepy, restrained yet dangerous. You feel like you always have to keep an eye on her when she's on screen. It's a remarkable villainous performance and one of the more memorable aspects of the film. The rest of the supporting cast is solid- I really liked Charles Babalola's small supporting performance. In just a minute or two, he makes a lasting impression on the film. The movie really isn't about the supporting cast- it's Lillis and Krige, with Leakey as a third. That's okay- there's enough depth to these characters that I was fine with it really focusing just on these three.

When I checked out reviews for this film, it didn't surprise me that critics enjoyed it far more than regular audiences. That completely checks out- Perkins' film always chooses the artistic vs. the narrative. He painstakingly creates some truly impressive visuals and if the story is a bit dull, well, that's okay. I felt somewhere in the middle here. I certainly appreciated the technical prowess of making a movie that looks like this. However, the plot never really held my attention. Like most people, I was familiar enough with the story of Hansel & Gretel (I love the title flop, by the way- it's very appropriate for this film) that I knew the broad strokes of the story. The script doesn't take too many chances by venturing away from the source material. So, you have a familiar story that feels a bit predictable. By not telling a more engaging story, all the beautiful visuals in the world won't hold our attention, even for a relatively short film. Perkins definitely shows some promise with this film. With a stronger narrative, it could have been a fairly special movie. As is, though, it feels like the work of a young director (this is Perkins' third film) who has an eye for visuals but needed a stronger script and an ability to create more urgency in his film.

For me, that translated into Gretel & Hansel being a decent horror movie. I certainly liked aspects of it, but it ultimately felt disappointing to me. I won't remember much of this film a year from now. I was never that interested in the characters, nor their story. I knew where the whole thing was going and the script mostly follows that path. This is never a bad film, but but it needed to be better.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 6.5


If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, The Witch, The Blair Witch Project