Prime Video adds dark stylish thriller destined to be ‘cult movie’

From the director of Longlegs and The Monkey, the Ireland-shot film looks set to find a second life on streaming.

Starring Sophia Lillis (from the IT horror films), the movie is a reimagining of the classic German fairy tale Hansel and Gretel.

"When their mother descends into madness, young siblings Gretel (Lillis) and Hansel (Sam Leakey) must fend for themselves in the dark and unforgiving woods," the plot synopsis reads.

"Hungry and scared, they fortuitously stumble upon a bounty of food left outside an isolated home. Invited inside by the seemingly friendly owner (Alice Krige, Star Trek), the children soon suspect that her generous but mysterious behaviour is part of a sinister plan to do them harm."

In addition to being the last film directed by Perkins before his mainstream breakthrough with Longlegs, Gretel & Hansel is also notable for being mostly shot in Ireland.

And thanks to Lillis' sympathetic lead performance, the movie's gorgeous cinematography and sets, as well as its even darker take on the well-known fairytale, the fantasy horror thriller is well worth seeking out for fans of those genres.

You can check out a sample of some glowing reviews for the film here:

Chicago Reader: "[A] visually gruesome and beautiful bildungsroman that gives the classic story new life."

The Hollywood Reporter: "Gretel & Hansel may alienate some horror movie fans with its extremely leisurely pacing and emphasis on atmosphere and mood rather than visceral shocks. But while the film certainly demands patience, it provides ample rewards with its lush stylisation."

Polygon: "If Gretel & Hansel doesn't turn out to be one of the year's genre highlights, 2020 will be a very good year at the movies indeed."

TheWrap: "It's got 'cult movie' written all over it... and audiences who tune into its unusual wavelength will no doubt be grateful for such a beautiful, frightening, intelligent new venture into an age-old nightmare."

How to watch Gretel & Hansel

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Gretel & Hansel is now streaming in Ireland and the UK via Prime Video.

The film was also recently made available to watch on Rakuten TV, a service that allows users to view a selection of movies for free, with ads, without the need for an account.