I don’t usually do movie reviews, but I watched this 2013 release last night for free on Amazon Prime. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I have to tell you I enjoyed it so much I bought the DVD.
Here’s the official blurb, as it appears on the movie’s official promo page:
Get ready for a twisted take on the classic tale as Hansel (Jeremy Renner) and Gretel (Gemma Arterton) have turned pro, coping with the trauma of their childhood captivity by slaying witches for hire. But when the seemingly unstoppable bounty hunters meet their match in an enemy so evil, it’ll take all their training, weapons and courage to survive. Revenge is sweeter than candy.
Yes, there is plenty of gratuitous violence and one suggestive scene with a bare backside. But there is also lots of lovely dark humor and witty visual jokes. A few examples: When kids go missing, the townspeople paste their pictures on milk bottles. One of the minor characters is an unattractive troll who happens to go by the Twilight-inspired name of Edward. (No, he doesn’t sparkle. ) And Hansel has developed diabetes from all the candy he was forced to eat at the witch’s house as a kid.
Both the beginning and ending credits are stunning works of art. Here’s the link to the instant video on Amazon Prime. If you don’t mind a few silly decapitations and exploding people, and you’ve got a dark sense of humor, you’ll really like this overlooked gem. Two thumbs up.
~ S.G. Rogers
Child of Yden (Author Suzanne G. Rogers) 