Review: 'Gretel & Hansel' is Grimm, but Surprising

Yet another Grimm fairy tale brought to life? And a tepid PG-13 rating to boot? Color me suspicious of a film that seems to have all the odds stacked against it. But "Gretel and Hansel" surprised me with an effectively moody presentation, even if the reversal of the film's title suggests a reboot of the classic tale.

You know the story: Two young children get lost in the woods and end up at a spooky house, where they are fed by the monstrous female owner. That scenario's still intact, but it's the lush cinematography and sense of dread that brings "Gretel & Hansel" to life.

The scenes featuring Gretel (Sophia Lillis, "It") and Hansel (Samuel J. Leakey) trudging through the maze-like woods are among the scariest of recent horror films. A wise decision to cast Alice Krige ("Star Trek: First Contact") as The Witch adds some terror to the proceedings, as well.

Unlike the overly jokey "Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters" from a few years ago, this version of the Grimm fairy tale is, well, quite grim.

Osgood Perkins, son of the late actor Anthony Perkins and director of a couple of low-budget horror films, brings the right amount of tension and hinted-at violence in "Gretel & Hansel." And thankfully, there isn't an overabundance of cheap scares or overuse of CGI. The modest $5 million budget shows throughout.

The lone special feature, "Gretel & Hansel: Storybook," veers away from the typical extras found on most Blu-rays. A collection of original illustrations showcasing how the final movie came together, "Storybook" is a step above your usual storyboarding film presentation

"Gretel & Hansel"
Blu-ray
$29.99
www.warnerblu.com