Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters Movie Review

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters gives a new take to the beloved fairytale. This take is funny, bloody and violent. And we love it.

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters sort of shows us the possible future of the two siblings after their encounter with the witch in the candy house. This movie brings a new twist to that world and brings action and comedy with it.

The movie stars Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton as Hansel and Gretel. Both actors do a good job in bringing their own take on the characters. The film is sort of like a blend of dark ages and mid 90s times. Our characters are fighting witches in black leather coats and gas powered crossbows with shotguns and a stun gun. The film’s characters look like characters from the Hugh Jackman film Van Helsing minus all the badly made CGI.

The movie has a plain plot. It doesn’t get your attention at first but as the film progresses, it will catch up. What makes this film stand out is that the heroes are portrayed as if they are in the real world. What I mean is that our heroes get beaten up. And I mean a lot. When we see film’s like these, the hero or heroes get a punch or two, and have slight injuries and bleeding. But here, our heroes get bruised, stabbed, thrown  into a tree, kicked, punched in the gut, slapped, thrown out a window and gets knocked out. They are fighting witches with powers and super strength who have been roaming the Earth even before the two hunters were born. So expect the enemy to know a lot more than our heroes and that they can kick their butts to kingdom come.

The action in the film is fast paced. When a fight sequence starts, it really is a fight. Everything feels up close and full contact. They are hunting witches that are fast and fights back. So chases and punches are well organized and well balanced. The visual effects are also well made. From the fires, to the witch’s powers to the exploding heads and bloody corpses, this movie blends it well with the surroundings and really makes it look real.

Art direction for the film also gets credit. From the costume to the weapons to the witches’ houses, the movie greatly went into extensive detailing. I love what they came up with the witches’ wands which are different for every witch as well as their brooms.

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters may not be a great film, but it delivers what it was made to do which is to entertain. The film mixes humor and action very well and will have you jumping at your seats when every punch, kick and scare comes out.

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters is a bloody ride of fun and action. It may not be that memorable but it delivers. I give it 7 out of 10.