- Film Review
- Reviewed By Alan Jones
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3 out of 5
Ever wonder what happened to Hansel and Gretel once they roasted that witch in the gingerbread house? According to this fast and furious all-action continuation of the classic fairy tale, the sibling slayers (played by a stern Jeremy Renner and a game Gemma Arterton) became bounty hunters. Their latest assignment is tracking a powerful witch bitch (Famke Janssen) who is kidnapping local children for sacrifice at an upcoming Blood Moon Sabbath. Dead Snow director Tommy Wirkola takes an irreverent approach with jokey anachronisms including steam-punk weaponry (like semi-automatic crossbows) and giving Hansel diabetes as a consequence of his sweet tooth. There's salty language, too, but you can't take anything too seriously in this very silly but amiable romp through Brothers Grimm land, peppered with trolls, demons, and witchfinder generals. However, because Wirkola accents the grislier dimensions of the quest - complete with crushed heads, chopped limbs and gushers of gore - this fanciful fable is strictly for grown-ups.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Hansel
- Jeremy Renner
- Gretel
- Gemma Arterton
- Muriel
- Famke Janssen
- Mina
- Pihla Viitala
- Berringer
- Peter Stormare
- Tall witch
- Zoƫ Bell
- Ben
- Thomas Mann
- Edward
- Derek Mears
- Jackson
- Bjorn Sundquist
Crew
- Director
- Tommy Wirkola
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