Hansel & Gretel: Warriors of Witchcraft – A Brew that Needs More Spice

So, here’s the skinny on “Hansel & Gretel: Warriors of Witchcraft,” a movie that had me scratching my head more times than counting sheep on a sleepless night in Malmö. Directed by the relatively under-the-radar David DeCoteau, this one tries to reimagine the classic tale with a modern twist. I mean, it’s got those familiar siblings, but now they’re battling in high school – secret societies, witchcraft galore! Yeah, really.

Honestly, I went in with low expectations, and I can’t say I was totally wrong. Booboo Stewart, who you might remember as Seth from Twilight, flexes his acting chops – but I can’t help but feel that even he couldn’t rescue the script from its broomstick nosedive. Add in that Oscar-winning producer, but wait, there’s none — truly a spell gone awry.

Now, the movie did kinda remind me of when my cousin Jörgen once convinced our whole family that he could do magic tricks during Weihnachten, only for us to realize it was just sheer sleight of hand and confetti. Charming, but not exactly magical.

There’s some fun to be had if you’re there for the campy effects, like that infamous spaghetti horror night in Lund where everyone laughs at the movie instead of with it. Maybe the real allure is in how unserious it feels, kind of like trying to take winter swimming seriously when you’re just going to end up feeling numb.

Of course, I might be too harsh – perhaps if you’re into mysterious cults and high school dramatics, it might just tickle your fancy. But for me? Well, maybe I’d rather have a fika and reminisce about the original fairy tale. But hey, each to their own, right? Total “retro” nostalgia points for anyone willing to dive in!

Check the trailer below