Mini-Transmission: Gretel and Hansel

"Somewhere between a fairytale and a fever dream, Gretel & Hansel (2020) serves up dark fantasy with a side of unsettling imagery."

 

Episode Description

In this mini-episode, Landen and Truman take another look at Gretel & Hansel (2020), a beautifully haunting take on the classic fairytale. They explore the film’s hypnotic visuals, the strange logic of folk horror, and what it means when children in a fairytale start tripping on mushrooms. Plus, a deep dive into some of the weirdest Grimm’s fairytales—including Clever Gretel and Gambling Hansel, a lost saga of trickery, dice, and divine intervention.

 

Major Cast and Crew

• Director: Oz Perkins
• Writers: Rob Hayes (screenplay), Brothers Grimm (fairytale)
• Main Cast:
  • Sophia Lillis as Gretel
  • Samuel Leakey as Hansel
  • Alice Krige as The Witch
  • Jessica De Gouw as Young Witch

 

Film Synopsis

A darker reimagining of the Brothers Grimm tale, Gretel & Hansel follows teenage Gretel (Sophia Lillis) as she and her younger brother Hansel (Samuel Leakey) are cast out into the wilderness. When they find shelter with a mysterious woman (Alice Krige) in a secluded cottage, Gretel begins to uncover secrets about the witch’s past—and her own destiny.

 

Episode Highlights

• The power of triangle imagery—cinematic or just Truman’s new obsession?
• Landen’s long-lost horror memory finally uncovered.
• The unsettling food of Gretel & Hansel—why does horror always ruin our appetites?
• The trippiest mushroom scene in a fairy tale movie (or at least in this decade).
• How Gambling Hansel turned the afterlife into a high-stakes card game.

 

Listener Question

What’s the creepiest moment from a childhood fairytale or movie that still sticks with you? Let us know in the comments or on social media!

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