Movie Review: Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (IMDb score: 6.4, Rotten Tomatoes: 15% fresh)
Director and Writer: Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow);
Cast: Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Famke Janssen


The first movie I saw with a 2013 release date, Hansel and Gretel is in many ways a mess.  The dialogue is cringe worthy, there's minimal character development, and the gore/blood effects are comical.  However, my earliest fear in life?  WITCHES.  So seeing these BAMFs get shot, stabbed, beat up, burned alive, etc. was cathartic for me.  I loved it, because these old hags don't go down without a fight.  There is plenty of action, in the form of hand to hand combat as well as numerous chase scenes.   The movie opens with the actual Hansel and Gretel tale, with a few alterations, and the rest of the story takes place 15 years after. (continues after the jump)

This is a classic B-movie; it doesn't take itself too seriously and has some moments of dark humor which I appreciated.  The bond between the two siblings is fierce and believable, and they are relentless and determined in their quest.  There are too many minor storylines, a few of which could've been cut, but I did really like the special effects and 3D.  Famke Janssen and Gemma Arterton do what they can with their roles, but this script had to be pretty awful  To quote Jeremy Renner, this is "mindless escapism".  If you expect more, you'll be disappointed.  At the end of the day, I wanted to relive a few moments of childhood fear and then see Hansel and Gretel get their vengeance.  And on that level, Hansel and Gretel definitely succeeded. 

RATING: B-