Gretel & Hansel (2020)

Gretel & Hansel is the rare fairy-tale horror that feels like it was painted in candlelight—every frame composed with such eerie elegance that the forest itself seems to be watching you. Osgood Perkins leans into slow, hypnotic dread rather than cheap shocks, letting the story unspool like a dark bedtime fable where hunger, fear, and temptation hang in the air. Sophia Lillis gives Gretel a sharp, searching intelligence, and Alice Krige’s witch is the kind of calm menace that makes your skin prickle long after she speaks. If you want a fast, jump-scare ride this may feel too mood-driven, but if you’re on the fence and crave atmosphere, this one is absolutely worth stepping into.

Gretel & Hansel is clearly aiming for a moody, art-house reimagining of the fairy tale, with a heavy emphasis on atmosphere, dread, and Gretel’s slow-burn coming-of-age. The problem is it often feels like a gorgeous mood board in search of a sharper story—pacing is languid, the screenplay can seem thin, and the tension doesn’t always build to something satisfying. If you want punchy scares, clear mythology, or a plot that moves with purpose, this may test your patience. But if you’re happy to trade momentum for eerie visuals, unsettling sound design, and a committed central performance from Sophia Lillis, it can still be a stylish, creepy little detour.