"Edward Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters" is a dark fantasy action-horror film released in 2013. Directed by Tommy Wirkola, it stars Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton as the title characters, Edward Hansel and Gretel. The film serves as a continuation of the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale, "Hansel and Gretel." The story follows the siblings, Hansel and Gretel, who, after their traumatic childhood experience of being lured into a witch's house, become professional witch hunters. Armed with an array of weapons and their knowledge of witchcraft, they travel from village to village, rescuing kidnapped children and exterminating witches. Set in a visually stunning medieval-inspired world, the film presents an alternate history where witches are not merely mythical figures, but a real and dangerous threat.
Derek Mears gets a break and a cooldown from Mike Elizalde (R). Mears looking for his next big movie role (L).
For the rest of the story, a 20-years later addendum, you ll need to check out Hansel Gretel Witch Hunters, the latest in the revisionist Grimm series that thus far has included CG-heavy spins on Snow White and Red Riding Hood. Minus the broomsticks and gnarled branches constantly jabbing you in the eye, there wouldn t be much to keep you awake in this formulaic, albeit action-packed, return to the forbidden forest.
Set in a visually stunning medieval-inspired world, the film presents an alternate history where witches are not merely mythical figures, but a real and dangerous threat. The film showcases a variety of witches, each with unique abilities and appearances, adding to the thrilling and action-packed narrative. As the siblings navigate through their latest challenges, they encounter Muriel, the powerful dark witch played by Famke Janssen.
CinemaDope
And you thought you had abandonment issues. As you’ll recall, Hansel and Gretel were repeatedly left in the woods by their father, doing the bidding of a nasty stepmother. Finally good and lost, the siblings happened upon a candy cottage ‒ the perfect refuge for sugar junkies.
For the rest of the story, a 20-years later addendum, you’ll need to check out “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters,” the latest in the revisionist Grimm series that thus far has included CG-heavy spins on Snow White and Red Riding Hood. To guarantee padded weekend returns, Paramount is offering the fantasy in a choice of IMAX, 3D and standard digital. I opted for 3D, the only way to go. Minus the broomsticks and gnarled branches constantly jabbing you in the eye, there wouldn’t be much to keep you awake in this formulaic, albeit action-packed, return to the forbidden forest.
Edward, trolling for attention
There’s certainly not much in way of narrative here ‒ do we really care that Hansel suffers from periodic sugar crashes? ‒ but I have to say the verdant German locations, gingerbread sets and conflicted troll named Edward almost held my attention.
A word to the wise: This is one children’s fantasy not meant for children. It’s rated R for a reason, and it has a good deal to do with coarse language and more flying viscera than the average splatter-film. Characters are smooshed, drawn-and-quartered, eviscerated. The climactic witches convention turns into a “Wild Bunch” slaughter.
Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arteton play Hansel and Gretel, now legendary bounty hunters known far and wide for their exploits. Like characters out of a spaghetti Western, they sport leather outfits and pack the latest in rapid-fire crossbows and blunderbusses. All the better to do battle with grand witch Muriel (Famke Jenssen), who with her minions plans a blood-moon Walpurgis Night. Main ingredients for the invincibility spell? Twelve children and the heart a Great White Witch (Gretel will do).
Norwegian director Tommy Wirkola, who marshaled Nazi zombies in the cult number “Dead Snow,” seems to have been aiming for something campy and irreverent. A melding of Rob Reiner’s “The Princess Bride” and Roald Dahl’s “Witches” perhaps? He misses badly, thanks to the leaden, cliché-riddled script, heavy on such nuggets as “The only good witch is a dead witch” and “You move, you die!” The aerial acrobatics could have been lifted from Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” The sole redeeming element? That ol’ granite-faced softy, Edward the Troll. Think Ron Perlman on massive steroids and you’ll have a good idea of what to expect.
Share this:
Like this:
Like Loading.Leave a Reply Cancel reply
- HOME
- NOW PLAYING
- 1917 ✮✮✮✮
- Knives Out ✮✮
- A Hidden Life ✮✮✮1/2
- Every Time I Die ✮✮
- First Reformed ✮✮✮1/2
- The Front Runner ✮✮✮
- The Bookshop ✮✮
- Hereditary ✮✮✮
- The Clovehitch Killer
- Adrift ✮✮✮
- Papillon ✮✮1/2
- A Quiet Place ✮✮✮
- Jurassic Fallen Kingdom ✮1/2
- Shape of Water ✮✮✮1/2
- 78/52: Hitch’s Shower Scene
- Lucky ✮✮✮1/2
- mother! ✮1/2
- It ✮✮
- It Comes at Night ✮✮✮
- Kong: Skull Island ✮✮✮1/2
- Snatched ✮✮✮
- Get Out ✮✮✮
- Logan ✮✮1/2
- The Last Word ✮✮1/2
- Split ✮✮1/2
- Hidden Figures ✮✮1/2
- Patriots Day ✮✮
- La La Land ✮✮✮1/2
- Nocturnal Animals ✮✮
- Arrival ✮✮✮
- Don’t Breathe ✮✮✮
- Hell or High Water ✮✮✮
- Blood Father ✮✮✮
- Star Trek Beyond ✮1/2
- Edge of Winter/Into Forest
- Sun Choke ✮✮1/2
- The Phenom ✮✮✮
- Weiner ✮✮✮
- Careful What You Wish For
- The Nice Guys ✮✮✮
- Criminal ✮1/2
- 10 Cloverfield Lane ✮✮✮
- Midnight Special ✮✮✮✮
- 13 Cameras
- Whiskey Tango Foxtrot ✮✮
- The Witch ✮✮✮✮
- Oscar Nom’d Shorts
- Camino ✮✮
- Hail, Caesar! ✮✮
- Rabid Dogs ✮✮1/2
- The Hateful Eight ✮✮✮1/2
- Knock Knock
- The Revenant ✮✮✮✮
- Brooklyn/Carol/Danish Girl
- Secret in Their Eyes ✮1/2
- Legend ✮✮
- Spectre ✮✮✮
- James White ✮✮✮
- Beasts of No Nation ✮✮✮✮
- Bone Tomahawk ✮✮✮1/2
- Julia ✮1/2
- The Visit ✮✮✮
- Cop Car ✮✮✮
- Return to Sender ✮✮1/2
- Southpaw ✮✮1/2
- Pixels ✮
- Ant-Man ✮✮1/2
- Jurassic World ✮✮
- Dope ✮✮1/2
- Good Kill ✮✮✮
- In Name of My Daughter
- Mad Max: Fury Road ✮✮✮✮
- Avengers Age of Ultron ✮1/2
- Maggie / The D Train
- True Story ✮1/2
- Ex Machina ✮✮✮1/2
- It Follows / Unfriended
- Beyond the Reach ✮✮
- Black Souls ✮✮✮
- The Harvest ✮✮1/2
- Welcome to NY / Marfa Girl
- The Gunman ✮✮
- Backcountry
- Run All Night ✮✮✮
- The Salvation ✮✮✮
- Maps to the Stars ✮✮✮
- McFarland, USA ✮✮✮
- Fifty Shades of Grey ✮✮
- What We Do in the Shadows
- Preservation
- Wild ✮✮
- The Babadook ✮✮✮1/2
- Interstellar ✮✮
- Force Majeure ✮✮✮1/2
- Nightcrawler ✮✮✮✮
- Whiplash ✮✮✮✮
- John Wick ✮✮✮
- Fury ✮✮✮
- The Expendables 3 ✮✮
- Into the Storm ✮1/2
- Get On Up ✮✮✮
- Guardians of the Galaxy ✮✮
- The Calling ✮✮✮
- Lucy ✮✮✮
- Life Itself ✮✮✮✮
- Dawn of Planet of Apes ✮✮
- The Purge: Anarchy
- Venus in Fur ✮✮✮
- Rage ✮1/2
- Under the Skin ✮✮✮
- Borgman ✮✮✮
- Cold in July ✮✮✮
- Godzilla ✮1/2
- In Fear
- Devil’s Knot ✮✮
- Wolf Creek 2
- Noah ✮✮
- Child’s Pose ✮✮✮1/2
- In the Blood
- Non-Stop ✮✮1/2
- Almost Human
- Raze/Contracted/Exposures
- Big Bad Wolves
- Lone Survivor ✮✮✮
- Wolf of Wall Street ✮✮1/2
- Open Grave ✮1/2
- Out of the Furnace ✮✮
- Hunger Games: Fire ✮✮✮
- Dallas Buyers Club ✮✮✮1/2
- All Is Lost ✮✮✮✮
- 12 Years a Slave ✮✮✮✮
- How I Live Now ✮✮1/2
- The Counselor ✮
- Escape Plan ✮✮1/2
- Carrie ✮✮
- Captain Phillips ✮✮✮1/2
- Gravity ✮✮✮✮
- Lovelace ✮✮
- The Canyons / Passion
- World War Z ✮✮
- The Purge ✮✮
- After Earth ✮1/2
- Sightseers ✮✮✮
- Hangover Part III ✮
- Iron Man 3 ✮✮✮
- Trance ✮✮1/2
- Simon Killer ✮✮✮1/2
- To the Wonder ✮✮✮
- Blancanieves ✮✮✮✮
- Detour/Rubberneck/Antiviral
- Olympus Has Fallen ✮✮✮1/2
- Jurassic Park ✮✮✮
- Silence / Poppy Hill / Mental
- The Call ✮✮
- Incredible Burt Wonderstone
- Oz Great & Powerful ✮✮✮
- Dead Man Down ✮✮
- Jack the Giant Slayer ✮1/2
- Dark Skies ✮✮
- Side Effects ✮✮✮1/2
- Bullet to the Head ✮✮✮
- Hansel & Gretel ✮✮
- Mama ✮✮1/2
- John Dies at the End ✮✮
- The Last Stand ✮1/2
- Gangster Squad ✮✮1/2
- Skyfall ✮✮✮1/2
- Flight ✮✮✮
- Argo ✮✮✮
- Wake in Fright ✮✮✮✮
- Lawless ✮✮✮
- Compliance ✮✮✮✮
- The Good Doctor ✮✮1/2
- Premium Rush ✮✮✮
- The Tall Man ✮1/2
- The Apparition ✮✮
- Total Recall ✮✮
- The Watch ✮1/2
- Lincoln: Vamp Hunter ✮1/2
- Prometheus ✮✮
- Snow White/Huntsman
- Chernobyl Diaries ✮✮
- Dark Shadows ✮✮
- The Raven ✮✮✮
- The Avengers ✮✮✮
- The Hunger Games ✮✮✮
- The Three Stooges ✮✮
- 21 Jump Street ✮1/2
- 4:44 Last Day on Earth ✮✮
- Silent House ✮1/2
- Project X ✮
- Gone ✮1/2
- Chronicle ✮✮✮1/2
- The Woman in Black ✮✮
- The Grey ✮✮✮
- Red Tails / Haywire
- Contraband ✮✮
- Girl with Dragon Tattoo ✮✮✮
- Hugo ✮✮✮
- Sherlock Holmes II ✮1/2
- The Descendants ✮✮✮1/2
- Shame ✮✮✮1/2
- J. Edgar ✮✮1/2
- Outrage ✮✮✮
- Jack and Jill ✮1/2
- Tower Heist ✮✮✮
- The Rum Diary ✮✮
- The Three Musketeers ✮✮
- The Skin I Live In ✮✮✮1/2
- The Thing ✮1/2
- Melancholia ✮✮✮✮
- The Ides of March ✮✮1/2
- Drive ✮✮✮1/2
- Dream House ✮1/2
- Star Trek Darkness ✮✮✮1/2
- The Help ✮✮✮✮
- Contagion ✮✮✮
- Warrior ✮✮✮
- “3” ✮✮✮
- Straw Dogs ✮1/2
- Forged ✮✮1/2
- The Debt ✮✮✮✮
- Don’t Be Afraid of Dark ✮✮✮
- Rise Planet of Apes ✮✮1/2
- Cowboys & Aliens ✮1/2
- Captain America ✮✮✮
- Deathly Hallows, Part 2 ✮✮✮
- TF: Dark of the Moon ✮✮1/2
- Horrible Bosses ✮✮
- Larry Crowne ✮✮
- Bad Teacher ✮1/2
- Green Lantern ✮✮1/2
- Super 8 ✮✮
- The Hangover Part II ✮✮
- Pirates:Stranger Tides ✮1/2
- 13 Assassins ✮✮✮✮
- Bridesmaids ✮✮✮1/2
- Everything Must Go ✮✮✮
- Thor ✮✮
- Fast Five ✮✮
- Water for Elephants ✮✮
- The Conspirator ✮✮1/2
- Scream 4 ✮✮
- Hanna ✮✮1/2
- Win Win ✮✮✮✮
- Limitless ✮✮✮1/2
- Lincoln Lawyer ✮✮1/2
- Paul ✮1/2
- Battle: Los Angeles ✮✮✮
- Of Gods and Men ✮✮✮✮
- Red Riding Hood ✮✮
- Adjustment Bureau ✮✮1/2
- Rango ✮✮✮
- Beastly ✮
- Cedar Rapids ✮✮✮
- Hall Pass ✮
- Kaboom ✮✮1/2
- Just Go with It ✮1/2
- The Eagle ✮✮
- The Roommate ✮1/2
- Sanctum 3D ✮✮✮
- Unknown ✮✮
- The Rite ✮1/2
- The Company Men ✮✮✮
- 127 Hours ✮✮✮1/2
- Human Centipede III
- The Last Days on Mars
- Black Rock
- Evil Dead
- Texas Chainsaw 3D
- Smiley
- The Road
- ATM
- Kill List
- A Lonely Place to Die
- Human Centipede 2
- Creature
- Apollo 18
- Shark Night 3D
- The Reef
- The Bleeding House
- Choose
- Dream Home
- Rubber
- Wrecked
- The Resident
- Kubrick: “2001” at 2001
- Is “Candyman” racist?
- Wes Craven Craved Mainstream Acceptance
- Jack Clayton directs Disney’s “Something Wicked”
- Leonard Nimoy’s “Voyage Home”
- Edward Dmytryk & Blacklist
- Detour: Noir distilled
- Henry Hathaway: True Grit
- Wes Craven: Professor of Horror
- Dances with Deception
- “Scar” Wars
- Toy Story 3
- MPAA Rating for Seniors?
- Movies and Manipulation
- Victor Salva
- Salva and the Media
- DGA Quarterly
- American Cinematographer
- Q&A (“Magnificent Seven”)
- “Bad Day at Black Rock”
- Roald Dahl’s “Poison”
- Glenn Lovell
Muriel harbors a grand plan that involves sacrificing numerous children during the upcoming 'Blood Moon' to regain her youth and power. With the help of allies such as Ben, a village mayor played by Thomas Mann, and the troll named Edward, portrayed by Derek Mears, Hansel and Gretel must stop Muriel before it is too late. The film weaves together elements of horror, comedy, and fantasy, creating an engaging and fast-paced adventure. Hansel and Gretel's dynamic as siblings is portrayed with a mix of seriousness and humor, showcasing their resilience and determination. The film's action sequences are well-choreographed, featuring intense fight scenes and creative use of weapons, providing a thrilling viewing experience. Although "Edward Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters" received mixed reviews from critics, it did well at the box office, earning over $225 million worldwide. The film's success prompted talks of a potential sequel, though no official plans have been announced as of now. Overall, "Edward Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters" provides an entertaining and unique take on a classic fairy tale. Its blend of fantasy, horror, and action makes it a distinct addition to the genre, offering an exciting and visually appealing experience for audiences..
Reviews for "Edward Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters: A Hero's Journey"
1. Jennifer - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Edward Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters". The concept had so much potential, but the execution fell flat. The action scenes were poorly choreographed and the special effects were subpar. The storyline was predictable and lacked depth, leaving me feeling bored and unengaged. Overall, I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this film.
2. Mark - 1/5 stars - "Edward Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters" was a complete disaster. The script was terrible, filled with cheesy dialogue and cringe-worthy one-liners. The acting was equally bad, with the lead actors showing no chemistry or depth in their performances. The film seemed more concerned with showcasing excessive violence and gore than developing any meaningful plot or character development. Save yourself the pain and skip this one.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Edward Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters" but ended up feeling let down. The story had the potential to be interesting, but it lacked proper development. The pacing felt off, with the action sequences overpowering any chance of character building. Additionally, the film relied heavily on CGI, which often looked overdone and took away from the overall experience. It's a shame because with some tweaks, this film could have been much better.
The Influences of Classic Fairy Tales on Edward Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters