Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (Movie Review)

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is a new film from Paramount Pictures and director Tommy Wirkola that puts a strange twist on a classic children's tale. Rather than ending the story once Hansel and Gretel killed the witch in the house made of candy, fans get to see what happens to the title duo after they grow up and become hunters of witches and other supernatural entities. Unfortunately for viewers, this is one story that is better off untold, as cheap special effects, poor acting performances and an overall underwhelming narrative keeps this film from ever living up to any potential fans could have hoped for.


The film begins with a young Hansel and Gretel fighting for their lives against the witch within the house made of candy after their parents leave the two children alone in the middle of the woods. The movie instantly changes many parts of the children's tale to fit the narrative of the film including making the duo impervious to dark magic and giving Hansel diabetes from ingesting far too much candy. The story continues to get even more ridiculous as the film progresses with both title characters getting new affections for the beings they've spent their whole life fighting. All of this occurs while fighting against a group of witches looking who are looking to become immortal with an all powerful spell that can only occur on a certain night. The storyline isn't very exciting, and other poor qualities of the film make watching it even worse.

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters suffers from some horrendous acting, especially from the film's two protagonists. Both are overly egotistical and very difficult for viewers to relate with, while most other characters in the film seem to be completely oblivious to their own ignorance and shortcomings. The acting problems compound with special effects that look the part of a very low budget film or television show to make the film even less immersive. Tommy Wirkola does show promise as a director with some well choreographed fighting sequences, but it's not even close to being enough to make the film worth seeing.

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters flops from the opening scene, as two young children are powerful enough to overcome a witch that should easily take down two kids, one of which is deathly sick, judging by the strength and fighting prowess of every other witch in the film. Poor acting from the main characters in the film, poor special effects that forces 3D effects unnecessarily into scenes and cheap fan service ploys make this a film that nearly any moviegoer will want to avoid. Save your money and avoid Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters.

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is now available on DVD, Blu-ray and Video on Demand. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is rated R by the MPAA. For more information on the film, check out the official Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters website.

Movie Features:
Release Date: January 25, 2013 (DVD Release: June 11, 2013)
Director: Tommy Wirkola
Running Time: 98 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Cast: Gemma Arterton, Jeremy Renner, Famke Janssen, Peter Stormare & Pihla Viitala

Score: 2 out of 10