There’s More Than Meets the Eye in “Gretel & Hansel” Trailer

Oz Perkins has become one of the most fascinating horror directors around. The former actor (you may remember him as the tall, socially awkward nerd in Legally Blonde) has gotten great reviews for his two features: The Blackcoat's Daughter and I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House, despite having almost no theatrical runs to speak of. Both premiered at Toronto, then went to VOD and streaming.

But his third feature is getting a full-blown wide release, hoping to capitalize on these winter months when there won't be many big tentpoles. Gretel & Hansel also has Sophia Lillis, the strongest part of the first It film, as its lead. This adaptation of the Grimm fairy tale aims for faithfulness, but its production design and cinematography look stunning, and its witch (Alice Krige) looks appropriately creepy.

For even more creepiness, check out the trailer below. Gretel & Hansel hits theaters on January 31.

About Kip Mooney

Like many film critics born during and after the 1980s, my hero is Roger Ebert. The man was already the best critic in the nation when he won the Pulitzer in 1975, but his indomitable spirit during and after his recent battle with cancer keeps me coming back to read not only his reviews but his insightful commentary on the everyday. But enough about a guy you know a lot about. I knew I was going to be a film critic—some would say a snob—in middle school, when I had to voraciously defend my position that The Royal Tenenbaums was only a million times better than Adam Sandler’s remake of Mr. Deeds. From then on, I would seek out Wes Anderson’s films and avoid Sandler’s like the plague. Still, I like to think of myself as a populist, and I’ll be just as likely to see the next superhero movie as the next Sundance sensation. The thing I most deplore in a movie is laziness. I’d much rather see movies with big ambitions try and fail than movies with no ambitions succeed at simply existing. I’m also a big advocate of fun-bad movies like The Room and most of Nicolas Cage’s work. In the past, I’ve written for The Dallas Morning News and the North Texas Daily, which I edited for a semester. I also contributed to Dallas-based Pegasus News, which in the circle of life, is now part of The Dallas Morning News, where I got my big break in 2007. Eventually, I’d love to write and talk about film full-time, but until that’s a viable career option, I work as an auditor for Wells Fargo. I hope to one day meet my hero, go to the Toronto International Film Festival, and compete on Jeopardy. Until then, I’m excited to share my love of film with you.