Hansel & Gretel

Hansel & Gretel (2024): A Dark Fairy Tale Reimagined for a New Generation

Hansel & Gretel (2024) is a chilling and visually rich reimagining of the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale, combining fantasy, horror, and psychological drama into a modern cinematic experience. Directed by acclaimed horror-fantasy filmmaker Corin Hardy, the film retells the story of the iconic siblings with a darker edge and emotional complexity.

Set in a vaguely European countryside ravaged by famine and war, the story follows Hansel (played by Tom Taylor) and Gretel (Milly Alcock), two orphaned teenagers who are abandoned in the forest by their desperate stepmother. Starving and frightened, the siblings stumble upon a mysterious cottage made entirely of gingerbread and sugar—a vision of paradise in their bleak world.

But paradise quickly turns to nightmare when they meet the inhabitant: a seemingly kind old woman known only as Mother Griselda (Tilda Swinton, in a mesmerizing and chilling performance). She offers them food and shelter—but hides a horrific secret. Griselda is a centuries-old witch who feeds on the souls of children to maintain her youth and power.

As Hansel is imprisoned and fattened up for the feast, Gretel begins to sense that something is wrong. Drawing on hidden strengths and ancestral knowledge she didn’t know she possessed, Gretel must outwit the witch, rescue her brother, and escape the cursed forest before they both become another story in Griselda’s grim collection.

While rooted in folklore, Hansel & Gretel (2024) diverges from the traditional tale by emphasizing Gretel’s transformation from frightened girl to powerful heroine. The film subtly incorporates themes of female empowerment, abuse survival, and the fight for identity in the face of manipulation.

Screenwriter Anna Sheridan crafts dialogue that’s poetic without being overly stylized, and the story unfolds with a maturity that respects the original tale while offering fresh narrative depth.

Milly Alcock shines as Gretel, bringing emotional vulnerability and steely resilience to the role. Tom Taylor balances innocence and stubborn bravery as Hansel, while Tilda Swinton’s performance is a masterclass in restrained menace—her Griselda is equal parts maternal and monstrous.

Visually, the film is stunning. Cinematographer Dan Laustsen (The Shape of Water) creates a dreamlike world filled with color and shadow. The forest is both enchanting and terrifying, while the gingerbread house is rendered as a grotesque blend of beauty and decay—an edible prison hiding ancient evil.

The score by Hildur Guðnadóttir adds an eerie undercurrent to every scene, with haunting choral arrangements and strings that echo through the foggy woods like a lullaby turned sinister.

Hansel & Gretel (2024) is a beautifully crafted dark fantasy that elevates its fairy tale roots into a story of empowerment, fear, and hope. With compelling performances, a gothic visual style, and a deeply human core, the film is both a tribute to old-world storytelling and a bold vision of what modern fantasy-horror can be.

Whether you grew up with the story or are new to it, Hansel & Gretel is a haunting journey you won’t soon forget.