Written and directed by Tommy Wirkola. Starring Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Famke Janssen, Thomas Mann, Pihla Viitala, Derek Mears and Peter Stormare.
Plot: now grown up, the infamous children who turned the tables on their captor, hunt witches for a living.
The movie opens with the classic fairy tale about Hansel and Gretel being captured by a witch who plans to eat them. However, they trick her and shove her into the oven instead. Many years pass and Hansel (Renner) and Gretel (Arterton) are well-known as heroes and witch hunters. They come to a small town whose children have gone missing and attempt to find the witches behind it all. In the process, they also save a woman named Mina (Viitala), who is suspected of being a witch and who’s about to be executed by the ruthless Sheriff Berringer (Stormare). Meanwhile, Muriel (Jansenn), the witch who kidnapped the children, is trying to find a way to become invincible. For this, she needs 12 children born in the 12 months of the year. She also needs something from Gretel herself, but Gretel doesn’t know what.
There’s interesting twists and turns in this telling of Hansel and Gretel. We always love a good brother/sister bonding movie, but this one is especially good. The cast is amazing and it doesn’t hurt that Renner and Arterton are so freaking hot. The protagonists were likable, the motive was nice, the innovation was superb and the effects were excellent. It was realistic as well and we liked that only the evil witches looked gross while the good witches were beautiful.
Most critics panned this film, but we loved the story and the bloodshed and the direction. It has developed sort of a cult following since it first came out though and we guess we’re just two of the followers. It’s a really fun watch. We suggest you give it a chance to win you over.
My score: 82. DJ’s score: 85.
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