Hansel and Gretel (2007) User Reviews

A dark fairytale

[Onderhond · 8/10 · 3 February 2009]

Maybe I've been ignoring Korean films for too long because I've seen some good things coming from those regions lately. From the first time I laid eyes on the promotional artwork this films sparked some interest, but I never bothered to pursue that interest. Luckily I finally did get around to seeing the film as this is right up my alley.

Hansel and Gretel is many things and is being marketed as many more. Sadly some people try to tag this film to the Asian horror wave, yet the film is pretty different in tone and execution. Some similar elements to Korean(/Asian) horror films are definitely present but in the end the film presents itself more like a darker fantasy.

Comparing this film to others is not an easy thing. It reminded me of quite a few other films but never as a whole. The setup is somewhat similar to Calvaire, the styling of the film has more than a little of Survive Style 5+ and the atmosphere could've been borrowed from a Korean Burton. But none of those references seem sufficient to describe Hansel and Gretel. In the end it draws its unique flavor from mixing all these influences and making them its own.

The film starts off like many Western films do. A guy in a car in a forest on a mountain road. Car crash anyone? But when Eun-Soo wakes up he sees a girl dressed up like Little Red Ridinghood. When he reaches her house he is confronted by a family of fairytale people, but looking and acting a little off. From those first scenes there's already a pretty weird atmosphere present.

The styling of the house and its inhabitants its absolutely lush, with plenty of attention to detail. Colors are flying off the screen and even though the frame is filled with toys and other colorful objects, the house is meticulously clean. It's these kind of things that help to establish the uneasy atmosphere from the start of the film.

As the story progresses the tone becomes gradually darker, as does the styling. The candy-colors never really fade but are often overshadowed by darker tones. It takes a while to get a good grip on the story as more and more elements are introduced to the film and certainly not all of them fit well together from the start, but about halfway through you should have a good idea of what the hell is going on.

Visually this is a very consistent film, with pretty awesome camera work and a great sense of color. Not unusual for Korean films but surprisingly the editing is not so intervening as to kill the atmosphere. There is plenty of time to admire all the visual sweetness, which has been known to be otherwise in Korean cinema.

The soundtrack too is effective and to the point. No high drama bombast to kill the atmosphere but good film music that aids the feel of the film. It's good to see that for a change the atmosphere of the film is kept consistent and is given room to develop itself. Something the film gratefully makes use of to crawl under your skin.

While the revealing of the mystery is nothing too special and the film knows its share of typical Korean taboo-breaking weirdness, it's that very mysterious, dark and fantasy-like atmosphere that gives the film enough momentum to easily swing past these little imperfections. In the end, Hansel and Gretel is a rather special experience that leaves a solid mark in the world of film.

Rather than call it a horror film, it's a dark fantasy mixed with drama and a touch of horror elements. The film is well acted, looks extremely lush and flies by in no time. And while many parts seem influenced by other films, the mix is completely unique and fresh. A very nice film and interesting take on fairy tale antics. 4.0*/5.0*

A twisted little fairytale

[joebloggscity · 8/10 · 9 February 2009]

Take one dark little fairytale and blend it in with some Asian horror sensibilities, and you get this loosely based modern take on "Hansel & Gretel". Truth is that the "Hansel & Gretel" theme is actually just a background for the film, and not the whole story.

The basic storyline centres around a man who following a car crash finds himself lost in the forest. Taken by a friendly young girl to her family's home, he finds the family is living in a fantasy like house full of toys and nursery school imagery (replacing the gingerbread make-up from the original tale). Obviously, all isn't as it seems and escape is futile as the leading man finds that all roads out of the house through the forest seem to lead right back to it. The protagonists are the three children, controlling the house and toying with those who enter it, becoming the bane for our lead man as he tries his best to escape their "ideal" world.

What is it all about? Well, it's no fairy tale, and is more a psychological horror tale. However it's very dark and even most adults will feel uncomfortable throughout much of it. That isn't to take away from the film, as its meant to play with our preconceptions of the fairytale world. The story develops from fairytale to horror and then mixes in some serious social commentary. The story is captured with some incredible set pieces and settings, whilst the actors all seem to fully suit their roles in this twisted little tale. Original and intriguing, no matter how uncomfortable you may feel at points watching this early in the film, it is worth watching to the end.

Not all will love the ride on this merry go round, but those who give it a chance to the denouement will find it intriguing and satisfying.

Grimm 'n' Garish

[asda-man · 8/10 · 29 August 2012]

Hansel & Gretel took me by surprise, in a good way. I was expecting a sick film about a man who gets taken hostage by a murdering, cannibalistic family and he had to escape. I should've known more, being that the film is Korean and the way in which they make films is often character driven, complex and with heart. Hansel & Gretel provides all three. The title is a mere intelligent reference to the Grimm's story, it's not simply a re-telling but a fairytale of its own, although I wouldn't go telling this story to any kids!

The film is beautifully shot. In the beginning the colours are extremely bright and vivid, giving the film an unnatural quality so that you know that there's something wrong. However, the colours and props gradually decrease as we find out the many secrets as it leads up to a big twist at the end that I'm sure you will never see coming. What makes the film so gripping and worthy of its two hour running time is that it's highly unpredictable. When you think the films going one way it completely changes direction in a similar way to "Martyrs", although not that harrowing! Hansel & Gretel is jam-packed (Nathan's jam, in my own fairytale) with twists and turns so there's hardly ever a dull moment.

Although things start to become repetitious when our hero keeps going into the woods and getting lost, so going back to the house it's there for a reason, so that we start to feel as fed up and trapped as he does/ There's a great atmosphere of isolation and the film is incredibly eerie at times with the creepy children. Hollywood could never make a film like this because they lack the imagination and creativity that makes Hansel & Gretel so great. Many people may not totally get the fantasy element but I see it important, as it makes the film become its own fairytale and also leaves a lot of things up to interpretation, and I like that sense of ambiguity.

The protagonist is also a very likable character,being that he's the only normal one in the whole film. We uncover the mysteries with him, putting the audience in his shoes makes the film even more compelling. The screenplay is very clever and explores extremely dark and brave areas towards the end. It makes you sympathise for the characters and almost changes into a completely different genre which is very original.

Hansel & Gretel can sit up there with all the other great Korean films, I have yet to see a bad one! It also makes a nice change to do something different rather than the usual (but brilliant) bloody revenge horror/thrillers. It's highly original and compelling with a big heart. It's scary and heartfelt exactly when it needs to be with a lot of questions that can be answered in very different ways. It's eerily directed and never boring. You'll care as much as our hero about uncovering the secrets in the strange house! I think that it deserves to be seen by much more people. (Luckily I caught it on Film4, having never even heard of it before!)

A different story

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 19 November 2009]

If you think you know what this is going to be like, you actually might be wrong. Especially if you think this is a true adaptation of the famous child story. It's not, it's completely different. This Korean movie might seem like a story that could be told to people and it's shooting style is amazing, but it moves very slow.

The colorful movie has quite a few twists, while taking it's sweet time. We have great actors here, who play in this drama (well it's a bit of Horror too, but don't expect this to be a real Horror movie, you will be disappointed by that expectation) and a nice story. The main thing still remains the style it's shot, so Kudos to the Production design and the camera man, for making this world so vividly beautiful.

A fairy tale for adults rather than a straight out horror film. If you understand that going in you'll really enjoy yourself

[dbborroughs · 7/10 · 23 September 2008]

Korean fairy tale based in part on the Grimms story only now things are reversed.

A man with a troubled life has a car accident and stumbles into the woods. found by a child he's brought home to recover with her mom, dad, sister and brother. However things transpire that quickly lead him to realize that all is not well and that he may never be able to leave.

If you suppress your desire to compare the film to other works of terror and fantasy in the early going you'll find that this is a pretty good and rather creepy story in the revised fairy tale genre. Its been compared to Pan's Labyrinth and The Orphanage and while I haven't seen the Orphanage yet, I would say that this would make a hell of a double feature with Pan (and perhaps even People Under the Stairs). It is ultimately a fairy tale and not a horror movie (its very creepy and doesn't have really big scares) and on that level it scores big points.You can pretty much click off the typical fairy tale elements and see that they are all working here (and no you won't do it while you're watching-though you will be aware that this is not a typical horror film) To be certain it did remind me of other films, but at the same time it bends them to its own end. The film also has several really good characters that lift the film to a higher level. The performances are across the board excellent with any flaws the result of the writing.

I liked the film a great deal and I am both happy and unhappy that I was interrupted in my viewing by a friend because the end left me rocked in both a good way and a bad way. I can't imagine how I would have reacted had the call not come since as is I'm a tad unsettled (which should not imply anything either way since the impact was emotional I'm not sure which way it left me).

Worth a look if you get the chance and like dark fairy tale type stories.

Not sure of the rating, I have to sit on this one a while.(Its at least a 7 out of 10)

Asian Film at its Imaginative Best

[Jacobsnemesis · 9/10 · 13 February 2011]

The world of film is currently saturated with Horror films similar to Saw and Hostel. In fact, to the average cinema goer, films such as Saw probably define the Horror genre. However, it is currently Asia that is producing the most original, surprising Horror films that last much longer in the memory than anything produced and distributed in the States.

It is therefore no surprise that Hansel and Gretel continues the tradition of outstanding Asian Horror film with its aim to entertain the audience with a good story as well as shocks.

There have been many similarities with this film to some of Guillermo Del Toro's work such as Pan's Labyrinth or The Orphanage. Initially, these comparisons seem to be wide of the mark, but as the last third of the film unravels, the similarities become clearer. In fact, it is in this final third that the film is at its strongest as things start to come together and the final twists are revealed.

All of the actors are brilliant, particularly the three youngsters at the heart of the story. They are very convincing in their roles and add some emotional weight to the film.

Overall, I would highly recommend this film to anyone that wants to see an original story that is full of imagination. A credit to the genre.

A Nutshell Review: Hansel & Gretel

[DICK STEEL · 7/10 · 26 April 2008]

I thought I'd foam in the mouth with yet another demonic kid horror movie, given the countless of such genre movies out there which set out to make innocent looking kids harbour plenty of ill intention behind them. But I thought the original Hansel and Gretel fairy tale was quite dark too, especially with the ending. You know, the kids who come to know of this gingerbread house where everything and anything can be eaten to fill their empty stomachs, only to culminate in their stuffing of the owner into a large stove so that they can take possession of the property to live (and eat) happily ever after.

OK, so if you believe my synopsis of the fairy tale, then you, like me, probably saw what many others don't. Anyway this Korean movie doesn't come close, only remotely in a certain scene, and the borrowing of the English title. The gingerbread house got replaced with a nice looking and inedible cottage in the middle of lush forest, though the amount of artificially coloured food still remains the same. Instead of two kids, we get three, who seem happy on the outside, but inside harbours some deep, dark, and unseen secrets. Until of course the movie decides to explain it all, as expected, in the last 30 minutes to make everything sensible.

While the poster might suggest horror, it's more of a thriller with little surprises. We all know that there's always some hideous back story that made the characters who they are currently, and almost always involve some bad episodes in life thus far. This time, it involves adults, and these children begin to develop suspicion of all adults who come into their lives. Pity Eun-Soo (Cheon Jeong-myeong), who got involved in a car accident, and got led by one of the children to live with them in their house. But the family in the Happy Children's Home, don't seem all the bit normal, and soon he discovers that he too seemed trapped within this surreal world with zero communications with the outside world. Heck, even the television's unplugged yet the only programme available is some really sadistic cartoon involving a rabbit and a bear.

The story might at first seem very ordinary though bleak, but grew from strength to strength as it went on, nevermind weak attempts at trying to elicit some cheap scares. I thought its basis of a story was strong, even though it did have a very screwed up version of the fairy tale most of us probably already know about. The set designs and art direction were all beautiful to look at, and most times you'll shift your focus to admiring the sets when events start to get repetitive, with Eun-Soo's attempts to get out of the house and the enchanted forest in more than 4 attempts, of course thwarted each time. Supporting characters like the adults who come and go, at first might make you scratch your head, but let that be the least of your worries, because once Santa Claus came visiting, you'll have to suspend your disbelief, otherwise this movie wouldn't work.

Hansel and Gretel's a pretty decent thriller, a mix of groundhog-day-ness with the usual trappings of cheap horror movies, boosted though by its rich production values. Themes of wanting to belong and non-reciprocated friendship, together with major trust issues, lift its plain storyline, and all round fine acting by the kids who will at first scare you, and then lead you to want to give them all a hug.

a supernatural fairy tale with goosebumps guaranteed!

[johnoshines · 23 March 2010]

This is a must see!! At under two hours long, it does slow a little in the middle but wait and be prepared to be shocked and moved as the mystery unravels just after half way through. It will probably give you goosebumps if you're not thick skinned - but that's good right!

It revolves around a creepy family of children in a strange cottage in the woods, the adults they snare keep disappearing, when our main guy appears they take to him but he cant leave... they wont let him! The art department is fantastic! Watch this with some fairy cakes and sweets and you'll feel like you are there.

To sum it up: Everything about this film is wonderful! It just oozes class, the story is a nice mix of supernatural fantasy fairy tale with a small injection of psychological horror.

A Korean take on the classic fairy tale

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 19 August 2012]

This chiller opens with salesman Eun-Soo driving through a forest while talking to his pregnant girlfriend on the phone; he is telling her how he must visit his sick mother when he crashes. When he regains consciousness he is deep in the forest being helped by a girl wearing a white dress and a bright red shawl; she takes him to her home. It is deep in the forest; there is something strange about it though; everything is brightly coloured and it looks just a little too perfect. We learn that the girl is called Young-hee and she has two siblings; older brother Man-bok and younger sister Jung Soon. He also meets there parents who invite him to stay the night. The next day he leaves but finds it quickly gets dark and he finds himself back at the house. That night he hears the parents arguing and in the morning there is no sign of them; just a note saying that they have done away for a while asking him to look after the children. The longer he stays there the more he realises there is something very strange about the house and the children and that anybody who tries to leave or upsets them is in grave danger.

This film is a delightfully chilling reversal of the famous fairytale as he it is the children who present the danger to an adult lost in the woods. At first it is impossible to tell whether they are genuinely malevolent or just want to find an adult they can trust who won't abandon them. Many horror films rely on the dark and lots of jumps to keep the viewer on edge but here it is the excessively bright palette that makes everything seem slightly wrong and there is very little actual violence. What violence there is, is somewhat disturbing though as the victims are helpless children. The acting is pretty solid although I had to rely on the subtitles to understand what the characters were saying. If you want to be scared this probably isn't the film for you but if you want something that might give you goose-bumps then give it a go!

A more dark and screwed up fairy tale

[KineticSeoul · 7/10 · 15 October 2010]

The original Hansel and Gretel story is a pretty dark fairy tale. This is basically a darker version with a similar concept but mainly different story overall. It's a dark horror movie with vivid and bright colors. The plot is about some guy who gets into a car accident and finds a young mysterious girl when he wakes up, she soon takes him to her family home. Which is a very fairy tale like home, even the inside of the home as well with bunch of sweets. Soon things start to get really creepy, especially the 3 children, one of them being especially annoying. The characters in this is pretty awkward at times, but it doesn't take away from the movie, but adds more mystery around it. The film is pretty cliché at first and predictable, but as the film goes on and on, it gets pretty good and entertaining to some degree. And at least the mystery of what is going on kept me interested, since I wanted to find out what is exactly going on. So the script is passable and is pretty decent, but could have been stronger especially in the beginning where it started to become a bit dull and dragged out a bit as well. Despite some flaws, there are still some good aspect in this movie as well. The set up is done pretty well and the cinematography is beautiful to look at, at times.

7/10

Chalk it down as a 'could have been great'

[Leofwine_draca · 5/10 · 21 September 2012]

A disappointingly mundane dark fairytale that takes the original storyline and transforms it into a modern-day offering about child abuse, the nuclear family, dependence and obsession. In truth, HANSEL & GRETEL bears little resemblance to the story we know of old, acknowledging it stylistically rather than via the narrative.

The film is billed as a horror movie but in truth it isn't. There are very few moments of violence or tension and these are glossed over rather quickly. Instead, the film prefers to depict 'happy family' scenes and hint at darkness behind the light, rather than focusing on anything specific. Yes, there are a series of supernatural events within the movie that could also help define it as fantasy, but again these are dealt with in hurried glimpses rather than focused upon.

Sadly, what we're left with is a series of repetitive events that go on and on for far too long. From the outset, it's apparent that Eun-Soo can't leave the idyllic woodland location he's trapped in, and yet a good half of the running time is about his endless attempts to escape. Then there are intriguing sub-plots that are never fully developed, such as the one featuring a would-be serial killer. The film ends up relying on huge chunks of exposition plonked in towards the end in an effort to explain things, and undigested back story never makes for a dramatically satisfying movie.

Indeed, you can't fault the calibre of acting on offer – especially from those great child actors – or indeed the technical perfection behind the scenes. But HANSEL & GRETEL's story feels bloated and unfocused, and needed the hand of seasoned professional to turn it into something better than it is.

Interesting take

[neil-476 · 8/10 · 18 August 2012]

In this interesting contemporary Korean take on the Grimm Brothers' original, everything is turned upside down: a stranded motorist ends up at a cottage in the woods where three children prevent him from leaving.

The story always keeps you guessing, the film looks good - given that it hovers in the horror/supernatural realm, it is brightly lit with saturated colours. Despite the fact that it is not loaded down with supernatural goings-on (the dramatic events are few and far between) it maintains a sense of genuine unease throughout.

It bears a strong resemblance in some respects to the "It's A Good Life" sequence of The Twilight Zone movie from 1983, but has a distinctive oriental flavour of its own.

Terrific performances all round, but especially from the children.

Deep Down in a Dark Forest, Seoul way...

[tim-764-291856 · 7/10 · 18 August 2012]

My title doesn't quite trip off the tongue, but one thing about fairy tales is that they can be set and adapted to anywhere in the world, the characters being wholly universal.

Premiered on Film 4 tonight, as part of a 'Fright-Fest' double bill, this eerie movie starts out like all Hollywood 'horror' flicks - you know, dark slippery road at night, middle of an impenetrable forest, driver uses his mobile - almost enough to put folk like me off, but maybe clever as it entices the new cinema-going market as they feel smugly content with what they're watching - until:

Yes - a fairytale house in a clearing, with cute kids and cuter parents and lovely toys and dreamy food...again, drawing us in but generating a sense of unrest and unease, as we know this is labelled as a 'horror' movie and ultimately, things have to get sinister and bad at some point. These they indeed do, but it takes time, maybe too long but, for once, there's a real story that's far more than some lazy adaptation. I'm not really au fait with the original Grimm story, but this extends and takes it to another dimension, without the sense of feeling that it's gone too far. It is ultimately the story that generates the most chills - how often can you say that, these days?

The art direction is the trump card here, along with the acting of the three main children. The associated cinematography and music assist greatly, bringing it all up to a standard that's amongst the best from modern Korea. There is quite a lot of violence, but only where the story requires it and some shocks to keep the blood pumping. It probably won't provide enough instantly gratifying gore and gruesome details for Friday night party types to Twitter about but for those wanting a more meaty fare, this has a lot going on.

It looks beautiful

[ansirahka · 3/10 · 2 June 2020]

I'm not familiar with the folklore so i don't know if the movie is weird for the sake of being weird or was it to keep the authenticity. I find the events are left unexplained, off-putting, and not well connected, so much that it left me uninterested.

Beautiful, magical, mysterious.

[paulclaassen · 6/10 · 8 June 2018]

An interesting take on a classic tale. Wow, this film is so well shot, the look and feel of the film is wonderful. The beginning is magical, yet mysterious, but we soon realize things are very wrong. Cursed, three children living in the house of no escape need 'parents' to look after them, so they lure people to their house. Jeong-myeong Cheon was very good as young salesman Eun-Soo, who the children viewed as 'different' to the other people. He was more caring and understanding, as he himself was a father to be, and this attitude saved his life. It was very effectively done how he won over the children's hearts, and how he also became their protector. The visuals were awesome.

One of Asian Best Fantasy Movies

[kupukupumu · 7/10 · 4 January 2015]

I just finished watching this movie, couple years late from the release, but the movie does not feel outdated, not even a bit. Early into the journey, it feels like you are watching Pan's Labyrinth.

The Good Some of the casts are good, especially the girl, Eun Kyung (got her name from IMDb, I am not really familiar with Korean actors). The plot is good, even for a movie junkie like me, it is hard to tell the ending which will keep you going to the end.

The Bad I said some of the casts are good, unfortunately some are not, especially the main cast whose expression at many scenes are blank. Some of the thrill parts are not thrilling enough and it can get a bit slow, but overall still watchable. Also, this movie can be much better and dramatic, if the siblings are only the sisters.

Conclusion I have to say, this movie is really the Asian version of Pan's Labyrinth. Of course, like almost all Asian movies, the visual effect cannot match those of Hollywood. If you like Pan's Labyrinth, the you should watch this. Hope this info is not spoiler to you. Also, like Pan's Labyrinth, I think this is a fantasy movie, not a horror movie.

One of the most original horror story I've seen this decade

[daryopeek · 9/10 · 18 February 2019]

While the story adapted from a famous folklore, the writer/director twist it sick enough to make sure that people knows that this movie ain't for the family. Honestly, I knew this movie since 2011, but never quite acknowledge its quality due to language barrier, and because I always encounter with boring K-horror.

This movie follows a man who discovered a house full of toys in the middle of the woods after he lost after a car accident. The house is belong to three siblings who have secrets inside them. What makes the movie is amazing, is how the screenplay never took a sequence to let the story dull. It keeps make me curious, confused, and most important thing, terrified to what really happens to the house. I don't like the situation somehow feels on/off though (there were scenes the MC is quite cocky to the children, but the children quickly forget it), but overall the screenplay (and also the actors) narrates the story well.

I am not quite fond of the twist, because rather than surprising, I found it very obvious. However, the story keeps the twist and things after that acceptable. Yeah, the poster surely wrote this movie is "Dark Fantasy", so that's why probably for me, some unexplained things were left unexplained. The eerie ambience sure what's probably makes this movie is original. Discovering children live in the middle of the woods, with all toys and joy, what could go wrong except that they never want you to leave? That's the feeling that never can be touched by any movie I know so far.

three children, three threads

[RResende · 25 February 2009]

Another experience in korean recent films. I think South Korea is producing some of the best films we get these days. It feels like there's some kind of a film school there, which still allows their filmmakers to work freely on the ideas side. The technical and imagery side of this cinema is great, some of the best photography i've seen recently comes from korean films.

This one could actually have been something powerful, it was ambitious, but it fails, to me.

Basically it tries to be a mix of three elements: suspense/horror, mapped into children's drama, mapped into Grimm's brothers tale.

.it is horror because we have a designated viewer, someone who represents us is the story. His fears are passed onto us, because what happens to him, we feel it ourselves, or are supposed to. We have a house, not specially interesting on the spatial side, except for the attic. That house is explored by the main character, and we explore it with him, and we fear all the way. Yet none of the common things of true horror films occur, and we feel heavy all the way, suspenseful, without being 'scared'. So it's half the way between horror and suspense. This proximity to a genre is a vessel in which the other elements are inserted. It's interesting the safety that the 'genre' gives filmmakers. They know they can rely on certain elements that will give audiences several references, that won't make them feel lost. It may be a trick for lesser filmmakers to secure they make an understandable film, or it may be a safety net that allows them to do something bigger, on the eye, or narrative. This one, i think, was supposed to be on the second case.

.there is a past to those children. Later in the film we come to understand that's what the thing is all about. They're family past, the whole thing about them not growing up because of the mistreatments adults gave them is the stuff that feels and gives sense to the narrative. So, we are intended to be given a twist as we fall for the children's motivations and start facing them as victims instead of devils.

.Hansel & Gretel, the tale, structures loosely the narrative. The horror elements give the mood, establish a genre, the Grimm's story supports the visual elements, and some plot elements. More important, it is a story, the key to the film. Notice that the main character, our designated protagonist gets free when he burns the story.

So this is all about narrative over layering and mixing narrative threads. We have three lines explore, and three children puppeteers. Get it? The thing is i didn't connect to the thing, the film is intellectually ambitious, but failed to reach me. I suppose it had a lot to do with pacing and narrative balance. The bits are disconnected, i thing some serious revision and editing and general rhythm would have made miracles here.

The photography is intense and highly competent, though not much in the mood of what we see. Still, it's a high mark for korean cinema. Lucky those directors, for having such artistic values at their services.

My opinion: 2/5 http://www.7eyes.wordpress.com (FantasPorto 2009)

Surprisingly original

[aronharde · 6/10 · 6 March 2024]

This was a twisted fairy tale about a familiar story that had a unique touch and an eerie feeling to it. The movie often works with bright colors and shines in different shades, that progressively turned darker throughout the movie, adjusting to its tone. The acting is solid and the movie in general looks pretty good and the premise, while being familiar definitely has its unique twist. The movie manages to portray this magical fairytale feeling of the house and the surrounding woods and is able to draw you in to its narrative.

I did not anticipate the movie to turn that dark and raw, however there are only few legit horror aspects and the film concentrates on the drama fantasy-genre, which I thought was some wasted potential. Two other minor complaints where that the movie was too long and the pacing was really slow at times making it hard to concentrate on the plot. However it was a unique experience and definitely worth a watch. [5,7/10]

a horror film with a very sweet tooth

[thisissubtitledmovies · 8/10 · 17 December 2010]

The Grimm's classic fairytale Hansel and Gretal is one that lives forever in the memory. With its gingerbread house and wicked witch, it is a children's tale that possesses joyful wonderment and creepy scares in equal measure. When Yim Pil-sung released this film in 2007, he promised to pay homage to such beloved fairy tales; however, the famed story which lends its name to Pil-sung's film is observed but not adapted here.

Hansel & Gretal works on many levels. The film has a magical and original script supported by equally magical visuals. The capture of the snow filled Korean forest and claustrophobic house create a feeling of wonderment straight out of a fairytale. This has maybe gone a little unnoticed outside of its native Korea, but it is well worth chasing up. A big surprise for its charm and inner delights, this is a horror film with a very sweet tooth. LW

One of the better Korean horror films (Very Minor Spoilers)

[mpstjohn · 8/10 · 1 January 2009]

The best Korean horror films seem to work because of the screenwriter and director's ability to blend elements of both horror and drama in such a way that you simply cannot give up on the characters in the story, no matter how much you might dislike them.

This is definitely the case with Hansel & Gretel, a film which if all you know about the film is the title you will find something very much the opposite of your expectations.

No this isn't really a story about two children being taken in by a witch. Quite the opposite in fact and despite being led to believe by the title that you've heard this story before and are now only going to experience a slight variation you're in for something very different from the typical Asian horror horror film. None of that Ringu long-haired ghost nonsense here.

Where the Koreans have recently excelled its in their need to produce something new and not fall back into recent genre trends. This film is no different. You're not entirely certain who to root for until the second major plot point, you're not sure of the victims, nor the victimizers. More so, you're not sure how you might arrive at a happy ending or a simple solution. There is none in sight.

When all is said and done, the story of a man, surviving a car accident and happening upon a house and an eccentric family in the deep woods (don't worry, they're not gonna pull a Sixth Sense on you) you realize you experienced the Korean equivalent of Pan's Labyrinth, a story about children and their strange capacity to realize real evil through the filter of their imaginations (don't worry they're not gonna pull a Bridge to Terabithia on you either).

Welcome to an imaginative world

[kluseba · 8/10 · 19 November 2012]

This contemporary movie is another little imaginative masterpiece coming from South Korea that doesn't stop to bring fresh ideas to the film industry. This particular film is a modern adaption slightly inspired by the world famous German fairytale "Hänsel und Gretel".

The mysterious story kicks off surprisingly quickly. Young salesman Eun-Soo is on the road to visit his sick mother and has an argument with his pregnant girlfriend on his cell phone when he suddenly has an accident and temporarily loses conscience. As he awakens, he meets a young and warm hearted girl that leads him through a deep forest and to an old house where she lives with her dynamic younger sister and a wary young boy. They do live in isolation with two adults and seem to have everything they need to be happy: they have a big selection of toys, a wonderful garden and many candies for breakfast. Eun-Soo soon realizes that the adults are not the kid's parents as they quickly go away and leave him alone with the three kids. Eun-Soo establishes a confident relationship with the three children but he soon realizes that they are not like other kids. They do everything to keep him in the house and there seems to be no way out to civilization through the strange woods. When another strange couple gets lost and comes to the house, the tension slowly rises between all residents. Eun-Soo finds also out that the two adults from the beginning didn't make it through the woods and encountered a series of fateful events. But as Eun-Soo realizes that the three seemingly innocent children have been through unspeakable events in their early childhood, he realizes that he needs to find out their most disturbing secrets and to face his own tragic fate to get out of the forest.

Despite a more or less predictable story line, the film convinces on many other levels. First of all, it features many stunning images, sometimes colourful and enchanting but dark and frightening at other moments. The costumes, decorations and special effects relate this film to the fantasy genre first but the movie also includes some important portions of the drama genre and some minor horror elements. The creative artwork is definitely worthy to borrow the name of a fascinating old fairytale.

Another strong point is without the glimpse of a doubt the solid acting. Especially the three children play their roles close to perfection. They act like real children but at the same time, they have some strangely mature behaviours and one is never all to sure if these three mysterious kids are angels, demons or both of it until the end.

The tension in this atmospheric movie rises more and more and features many diversified cinematic elements such as flashbacks or moments when scenes of past and presence happen on a parallel level until a certain climax. The movie gets more emotional but also tension filled towards the end while the ending is as enchanting and well catalysed as the opening scene.

In the end, any fan of imaginative fantasy movies, fairy tales in general and contemporary South Korean cinema shouldn't miss this movie. It has this certain magic mood, features numerous solid ideas and has no notable lengths. It's clearly not the best movie coming from this fascinating country but still easily in the top ten of the best South Korean movies of the last decade.

Sad,beautiful

[chrisam5671 · 10/10 · 5 October 2012]

I am a huge fan of Korean cinema,and this is one of my favourites!This movie touched me,and stayed with me long after it was over. It got me thinking,and any movie which does that is good. Early on as the story gets going,it sort of leads you to think maybe there's something dark,and fearful about the children. As the story slowly unfolds,and the truth reveals itself; it becomes so shocking,and incredulous,that shocks the faint of heart. My deeper thoughts on this movie was how the innocence of children,and their belief in anything. The well being of children when the most basic needs such as love,kindness,and respect is given to them,how healthy they become. And when those simple things are denied the outcome becomes sad. I am a mother,and perhaps that was why I was so affected,but I can't help but think how anyone would be affected. the story was told so beautifully that I was haunted long after it was over. I can honestly say I've never seen a movie quite like this,and still after a few years have not forgotten it.

Be careful what you wish for...

[djangozelf-12351 · 8/10 · 13 August 2015]

This movie was good on so many levels it is hard to swallow it did not get more international attention than it did.

It starts of in reality where someone get's into a car accident and crashes in the woods and wakes up in the dark where he meets a young girl looking for a hairpin her little sister lost.

Convinced he can call at the girls house she guides him to a place that looks like an everlasting Christmas scene with lots of toys and of course sweet foods.

He than meets the rest of the family but besides them being very nice he's starting to get the feeling there is something not right about this "happy"place.

From there on things get even darker and nothing in this place is what it appears to be in the beginning and all the twists and turns fit to the story so at the end you really get a feeling it's a complete story.

The acting was top notch and especially the children did an excellent job on playing good/bad kids which was really creepy sometimes.

Could be compared slightly to"the brothers Grimm"but than with"off"Korean drama which i'm beginning to like more and more.

Movies are all about storytelling and it's become clear to me South Koreans do this very well.

Maybe this low quantity ,high quality works?!.

Think about it,Holly.

Outstanding Filmaking. Strongly Competitive With The American Horror Film Market.

[johnstonjames · 8/10 · 27 October 2011]

as far as American horror films go, this film is equally as good and possibly much better than the standard fare that is commonly offered American audiences. it is certainly more beautifully crafted than the typical American/Canadian horror stock film usually released every so often. in fact it's only problem is that it is often so beautiful to look at that you are a little distracted from the other elements in the film. but only somewhat.

the story here is pretty eerie and gets emotionally intense. it also weaves in the traditional 'Hansel and Gretel' fairy tale into the storyline without being clichéd or using a obviously trite twist. the only thing that was obvious to me or that i could use for comparison was Rod Serling and 'The Twilight Zone' movie.

although in subtitles (which i prefer), the acting is very emotional and on a strong feeling level and comes across the language barrier. especially the young actor who plays the lead role of the young man lost in the woods. the child who plays the complex and often sinister Man-Bok is also excellent and maybe even at times more impressive given the nuances of his character.

as well as having some hauntingly beautiful photography and set design, this film also displays a outrageous sense of humorous design as in all the little robots and toys and animals in the house, drapes and wallpaper.

the message here is surprisingly moving, but that doesn't make a lot of the movie any less chilling. this movie delivers thrills and chills but also manages to be substantial, worthwhile entertainment. that can't always be said for a lot of movies produced here in this country.