Review of Hansel & Gretel (2013) by Joe A — 07 May 2013

Asylum flick is actually amusing if you cut it some slack. Updating of the classic fairy tale has twenty something brother and sister, Hansel (Brent Lydic) and Gretel (Stephanie Greco) being held in the secluded house of witch and sweet shop/cafe owner, Lilith (Dee Wallace).

Of course Lilith and her two brutish sons kidnap people for Lilith's meat pies and she sees Hansel, and a few others in her dungeon/kitchen, as her next dish and Gretel as a potential protege'.

Obviously the siblings don't agree with these plans and gruesome hi-jinx ensue. Directed by Anthony C. Ferrante, who showed a lot of potential in his feature debut 'Boo', H&G is kinda gory fun and despite it's deep down silliness, Ferrante takes it seriously enough and is able to give it some tension and suspense.

He has a nice visual style on a low budget, as he did with Boo and Headless Horseman, and being a make-up effects guy as well, gets good use out of his gore FX people. His cast are all adequate with Wallace having an over the top blast as the sinister Lilith.

Add to that frequent Carpenter collaborator Alan Howarth doing the score and you've got an entertaining little horror that doesn't try to be anything more then it is. I still feel someday Ferrante might hit us with a really great horror flick.

We'll see.