Gretel & Hansel

By Abbey Strachan, Reporter           Published February 24, 2020

   One of the newest horror movies came out in theaters January 31, 2020, Gretel & Hansel. Orion Pictures takes a different approach on the classic tale and was met with many mixed reviews. 

   The new movie starts when the kids mother turns with anger, the children have to fend for themselves and set off alone only having each other. While hungry and lost, they come across a feast of food inside what seems to be an abandoned home. They get invited inside by the “friendly” owner and soon become suspicious because of her weird behavior, which is part of a sinister plan that doesn’t end well. 

   The film currently has 57 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and has a rate of 5.6/10 on IMDb. The 57 percent on Rotten Tomatoes features the positive side of the movie while the rest isn’t so uplifting. Mark Kennedy posted his point of view of the film on the website, “Gretel and Hansel is as visually arresting as it is tedious, a 90-minute movie that really should have been a three-minute music video for Marilyn Manson or Ozzy Osbourne.”

   Although the movie feels slow and has reasons that you may not want to watch it for, there are many positive perspectives. For example, the movie features some sickening scenes which are perfect for horror fans, and has a “trippy twist” on the old Grimm tale. Another review on Rotten Tomatoes, by Dan Tabor, says that, “

Gretel and Hansel is an eerily effective slow burn that utilizes the tropes of horror to weave a densely layered coming-of-age fairy tale.” 

   It depends on the person watching the movie. This might not be for you, however, if you're into eerie movies and have a love for old tales, this may be the most thrilling aspect of the film yet.