There is much buzz in Hollywood about remaking fairy tales with a darker twist. That is fine, but they should not pretend that it is such a big breakthrough. After all, it has been done before. Not to say that some of them are not enjoyable to watch, but it is slightly unnerving to hear them promoting the films by saying; 'we are taking a new twist' or 'it is not the children's story you might remember.' Then they warn us the films might scare children. Let us take a look at some of the films that have taken a darker twist on classic fairy tales.
Most recently the film Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters starring Jeremy Renner is appearing in theaters. Hansel and Gretel become witch hunters after their experience with the witch as children. They have a gift of being immune to witch curses and spells, so it is easy to hunt them. Although this film is doing very well, similar ideas have already passed through the B film category. Just prior to the Witch Hunters film there was Witch Slayer Gretl , a SyFy Channel original film, starring Shannen Doherty. This story takes place twenty years after Hansel and Gretel encounter the witch. Hansel, a fierce witch slayer, returns to the haunted forest to avenge his sister's death. He finds that not only is his sister alive, but she is the witch's protégé. Although that deviates from the original story, it is an interesting twist. Recently released is Hansel and Gretel: Warriors of Witchcraft, starring Boo Boo Stewart (Twilight) and it also features Cherie Currie (Runaways band). Hansel and Gretel embrace their true nature as witch hunters when they are asked to attend a prestigious prep school, which happens to be a coven of witches.
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Please be aware that these films are only mentioned for the comparison of similar storylines. Before you go out and rent them, remember that they are low budget films and most of then are not well received.
Where to find these films locally: Video 1
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