Those not familiar with Perkins‘ work or expecting a more thrilling ride likely may have immediately compared the film to something like The Witch, and rightfully so. While Gretel & Hansel exudes more style, even A24’s gem from 2015 delivered better with its pacing, especially toward the end.
With a story so familiar, one may be surprised to find themselves at the end of Gretel & Hansel so quickly, and not because of its short runtime. Despite its glacial pace, the climax of the film covers the span of what feels like 45 seconds and hardly feels like a payoff, given the long build-up.
Horror fans expecting a shockingly horrific take on Hansel and Gretel were let down with this adaptation. Gretel & Hansel certainly offers grotesquery but little in terms of actual horror. It can only be assumed that this was by design, as there are plenty of genuinely scary PG-13 movies out there. While the film may be lacking in violence and scares, it more than makes up for with ominous dread. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough for many critics or the audience, and the marketing for the film certainly made it look like there were some good scares to come.
Those looking to be transported into the fairy tale directly and get lost in the atmosphere, those okay with the unsettlingly eerie instead of the horrific, and those who love a slow-burning, psychological build-up of dread found themselves quite pleased with Gretel & Hansel. At the end of the day, it’s a specific movie for a specific audience about a widely-known fairy tale. It’ll likely stay a polarizing film for many, but it’s one that certainly found its niche.
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