Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Gretel & Hansel 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 1, 2024

As a tale of temptation and survival, “Hansel & Gretel” has been adapted and reimagined countless times since its debut in 1812. The Brother Grimm fairy tale has been transformed into light and dark entertainment, most recently in 2013’s “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters,” which attempted to turn the storybook siblings into action heroes. For co-writer/director Oz Perkins, the original tale is an ideal fit for his helming interests, giving him another opportunity to explore slow-burn chills, only now he’s handed a little more marketplace visibility with “Gretel & Hansel,” which delves into Grimm Brother doom, but also keeps up genre trends set by Euro-flavored endeavors such as “The Witch” and “Hereditary.” Perkins aims for cinematic creep with the progressively titled “Gretel & Hansel,” and he’s capable of constructing arresting imagery. It’s storytelling stasis that often flattens the viewing experience.

Pestilence is sweeping across the land, forcing teenager Gretel (Sophia Lillis) to grow up in a hurry, tasked with finding some form of employment after her father is removed from the family dynamic, and her mother slips into insanity. Gretel is devoted to her younger brother, Hansel (Sam Leakey), an earnest boy who doesn’t quite understand the situation his sibling is in, lovingly protected by his devoted sister, who refuses to abandon him. Forced out of their house, Gretel and Hansel are sent into a forest of dangers, meeting those who wish to harm them. Looking for a safe place to rest, the duo comes across a unique home owned by Holda (Alice Krige), a seemingly kind old woman who’s happy to offer the comfort of food and shelter to the starving, fatigued pair, welcoming them into her dwelling. During their stay, Gretel finds a connection with Holda, who’s actually a witch eager to pass down her magic to another, keeping special plans for Hansel, who disappears one night.

The director of “The Blackcoat’s Daughter” and “I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House,” Perkins is certainly a fan of scary movies. He’s not one to pursue shock value for cheap jolts, embracing a sinister creep of malevolent forces as they attempt to corrupt the seemingly pure. “Hansel & Gretel” is a proper fit for Perkins, presenting him with a disturbing tale of caution, only in “Gretel & Hansel,” the story has been changed slightly to focus on the elder sibling, as Gretel is troubled by the world around her, sent out to find employment in a land populated with sexual predators and the mad. Perkins and co-writer Rob Hayes don’t try to make a superhero out of the character, offering her empowerment tale in small bites of self- analysis, as Gretel narrates the feature with a droning inner-monologue, perhaps stapled to the film to simply help explain motivation when Perkins doesn’t feel the need to clarify the young woman’s actions (there’s a small vibe of studio tinkering for the PG-13 production).

“Gretel & Hansel” remains close to the original Grimm Brothers tale for the most part, exploring the siblings and their vulnerability when lost in the woods, leaving them to despair as hunger claims their every thought. In this interpretation, Perkins treats starvation as an opportunity to trip out, with Gretel and Hansel devouring psychedelic mushrooms, enjoying the first of a few unnecessary tonal detours in the picture. The pair finally make it to Hilda’s dwelling, which resembles a Swedish commune, but is stacked with delicious foods, including Hansel’s beloved cakes. The kids locate shelter, but Holda isn’t exactly the gentle soul she initially seems to be, finding an apprentice in Gretel, who’s aware of the witch’s origin story. “Gretel & Hansel” doesn’t increase tension as it goes, with Perkins bathing in his mood, tight aspect ratio, and love of Krige, who’s handed every opportunity to act her heart out as the wrinkled, black-fingered antagonist. The feature stops on many occasions to simply admire the spare atmosphere, which doesn’t translate to disturbing content. All it really does is highlight how much Perkins adores his own sense of style.

For more information and analysis, please read Randy Miller III’s 2020 Blu-ray review.

Gretel & Hansel 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray.

The "Gretel & Hansel" UHD release is listed as a "New 4K presentation from the original master." The Dolby Vision viewing experience does well with the feature's reliance on darkness, offering rich blacks throughout that explore shadow play and evening activities. Color is also used carefully in the movie, preserved here with glowing panels of stained glass and the orange intensity of fire. Nature visits are distinct, with a moodier autumnal appearance. Costuming remains compelling with darker attire, and skin tones are natural. Highlights are tasteful, doing well with defined sources of light. Detail is strong with skin particulars, including the smoothness of youth and the age of evil. Interiors are textured, delivering the intended sense of unease with the home and its decorative and glistening edible additions. Exteriors maintain ideal depth. Compression holds together.

Gretel & Hansel 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix offers sharp dialogue exchanges, managing more pronounced offerings of narration and crisp conversations from a variety of acting styles. Scoring cues are clear, with strong instrumentation with synth moods. Music offers some presence in the surrounds, which aren't always active during a largely quiet movie. Atmospherics are appreciable, and there's mild movement with violence. Low-end also sparks to life with more intense physical activity.

Gretel & Hansel 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features director Osgood Perkins.

• Commentary #2 features film historian Rebekah McKendry.

• "The Beautifully Grim Fairy Tale" (15:07, HD) is an interview with production designer Jeremy Reed, who originally met director Osgood Perkins for 2016's "I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House," reuniting with him two years later for "Gretel & Hansel." The interviewee explores his take on the material, tasked with finding a fresh look for an old tale, with his ideas unsettling the crew and producers, who were expecting a more traditional approach. Searching for "malevolent architecture," Reed found his way to the triangle, repeating the shape throughout the film. A discussion of the central house is offered, exploring its purpose and the shoot in Ireland, celebrating the work of cinematographer Galo Olivares. Contributions from other crew members are highlighted, with Reed identifying inspirations for many ideas in the feature.

• "Storybook" (5:22, HD) is a motion comic book used to promote the release of "Gretel & Hansel."

• "Gretel" (1:02, HD) takes a look at the development and execution of the character in the film, featuring interviews with director Osgood Perkins and actress Sophia Lillis.

• "New Tale" (1:02, HD) examines the creative and thematic approach of "Gretel & Hansel," featuring interviews with director Osgood Perkins and actress Alice Krige

• "Witchcraft" (1:03, HD) highlights story points and evil powers, featuring interviews with director Osgood Perkins and actresses Alice Krige and Sophia Lillis.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:02, HD) is included.

Gretel & Hansel 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

More direct expansion of the "Hansel & Gretel" tale arrives in the climax, which offers a satisfying resolution to a movie that's not particularly interested in telling a story. Characters are thinly drawn, with more care for appearance than reasoning, and while flashes of magic are striking, powers are ill- defined, possibly saved for a sequel. "Gretel & Hansel" has its gruesome moments, and they work, generating an unnerving sense of oncoming horrors as Holda exposes what she's really up to in the deep woods, but the overall viewing experience lacks spirit, with Perkins more attentive to his technical achievements, creating a shallow pool of frights.