Gretel & Hansel reimagines the Brothers Grimm story with a strong visual style and chilling atmosphere. Directed by Oz Perkins, the film focuses on Gretel (Sophia Lillis), a teenage girl who, together with her young brother Hansel, must fend for themselves after their mother, stricken by grief and despair, abandons them. As they wander in hunger, the pair come across Holda (Alice Krige), a mysterious witch who lures them into her eerie house in the woods, promising comfort and safety—but darkness hides beneath her hospitality.

One of the film’s biggest strengths is its cinematography. The woods, the house, the lighting—all of it works to build a sense of dread rather than relying on jump scares. The production design is hauntingly beautiful, with surreal touches that make the forest and Holda’s home feel both magical and menacing. Alice Krige as Holda is especially effective; her presence oscillates between seductive kindness and terrifying threat, which keeps you constantly uneasy. Sophia Lillis carries Gretel’s emotional journey well, though Hansel has fewer layers to work with.

On the downside, the pacing is slow, sometimes too deliberate, which may test viewers who want more plot momentum or scare moments. The story leans heavily on mood, and some of the horror potential feels muted—there are teased terrors and sinister symbolism, but not always enough payoff. The writing occasionally falls into the trap of being overly abstract, and voiceovers try to clarify what might have been better shown.

If you like gothic, fairy-tale horror that leans more into beauty and mood than visceral fear, this delivers. If you expect full-throttle horror or a tightly plotted narrative, you might find it frustrating.

Final Score: 6/10. Beautiful, atmospheric, and occasionally chilling—but ultimately underwhelming by genre horror standards.

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