Weekly Review -- A fairy tale revised

Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters (2013) -- From Mirror Mirror to Jack the Giant Slayer, fairy tale reimaginings have become a popular cinema trend in recent years. Now Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) has thought up an even bloodier version of "Hansel and Gretel", and the film is fun to watch for much of its running time. As for the rest of the time, well... let me just say that it reaches out of its appealing universe into Slasher Central, with a helping of careless writing. Needless to say, this attempt does not work.

Years after they were kidnapped by a forest witch, Hansel (Jeremy Renner) and his sister Gretel (Gemma Arterton) are known far and wide for their hunting skills. When a new grand witch (Famke Janssen) starts abducting children from the siblings' village, the pair are called into action to find the youngsters and uncover the creatures' plans...

First, the good news. With opulent cinematography by Michael Bonvillain and rich set design by Bernhard Henrich, not to mention the stunning locations, the film has the capability to transport the viewer to an otherworldly time and place. I also appreciate the numerous nods to steampunk, which is a terrific aesthetic to bring in. There is a sense of mythical dread and anticipation that makes Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters feel like the tale reads. The story offers some unique shifts from the original narrative as well, introducing a diabetic Hansel and a hierarchy of witches. In the fairy tale world, witches have always been mostly one-dimensional, but Wirkola's vision shows them as all-powerful monsters, hating humans with a passion and guarding their realm with fierce supernatural grit. The foundation for the film is an innovative concept that turns the original upside down, while extracting the familiar elements for the viewer and reader to enjoy.

Now the bad news. The screenplay, the screenplay and the screenplay. The writing does not give the protagonists or the villains a chance to fulfill their fun potential and dialogue feels very stiff and clichéd on occasion. Why is the witches' hierarchy not explored further? The announced sequel might do it, but it still feels like we get a whole lot of unanswered questions in this installment. On another note, there is too much brutal violence for this kind of story. I am not talking about slow motion shoot-em'-ups or stylized witchcraft. I am talking about a near-rape pummeling scene that is vicious, unnecessary and entirely out of context. Another flaw is the swearing and contemporary slang that does not fit into the rustic milieu. Should almighty witches really have to use the word "bitch"? One would think that, as apparent rulers of the forest, they would be more creative with their insults. Finally, I cannot understand why everyone uses different accents, with Janssen being the only cast member trying to make hers appropriately unspecified. These distractions drag the film down, almost completely taking us out of the story. 

The cast does all right with what they are given. Arterton and Renner have good chemistry; Arterton in particular is adept at the heroine role. Janssen is an authoritative presence, but she can barely overcome her character's lack of good lines. Peter Stormare is great as the scheming sheriff, although the actor has proved over and over again that he can do this kind of role in his sleep. Pihla Viitala is excellent as a multidimensional love interest and Thomas Mann is endearing as a wannabe hunter. 

Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters is not quite the thrill ride that it was meant to be. With more attention to detail and less blood lust, it could have been a spectacular fantasy. I do hope that the sequel shows improvement but, as it stands, this film should have left a trail of pebbles in order to return to the sheer escapism of its idea. 

6/10