5 For: Gretel and Hansel (2020)

In this Movie Memory Machine: Five For mini-episode, Landen and Truman descend deeper into the forest of offbeat horror, dark fantasy, and ghostly dread. Building on the vibes of Gretel & Hansel, they recommend five strange, stylish, and haunting films that blend folklore, surrealism, and atmospheric isolation. From haunting governesses to cursed love stories and meth gators, this list is a strange brew—equal parts eerie, elegant, and Eastern European. Films Discussed: Lemora: A Child’s Tale of the Supernatural (1973) Beauty and the Beast (1946, dir. Jean Cocteau) Beauty and the Beast (1978, Czechoslovakia) The Innocents (1961) Midsommar (2019) Topics Covered: Fairy tale logic vs. narrative logic Why dark fantasy works best through a child’s eyes (or a governess’s) Jean Cocteau’s uncanny elegance and Gothic surrealism When the Beast is genuinely beastly—and not just “hot with fur” Czechoslovakian castles, tetanus aesthetics, and the horror of 70s Euro cinema The Innocents as peak atmospheric ghost story Ari Aster’s sunlit dread and the isolation of folk horror Key Takeaways: The scariest horror films don’t shout—they quietly watch from across the river Folk tales and fairy tales don’t need happy endings—they need strange rules Isolation creates its own morality Black licorice is the defining visual metaphor for Osgood Perkins’s career Listener Prompt: What’s your favorite surreal or atmospheric horror film? Let us know using #MovieMemoryMachine—or join the Discord to drop your weirdest recommendations. Support the Show! Help keep Movie Memory Machine ad-free and artist-owned! Here’s how you can support us: Become a Patreon supporter – For as little as $1/month, you get access to bonus content for all shows on the Grunt Work Podcast Network. Join at https://patreon.com/gruntworkpod Leave a rating and review – On Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. Like, follow, and share on social media – We’re @MovieMemoryMachine on YouTube and @MovieMemoryPod on Letterboxd. Tell a friend – Word of mouth is how we grow. Join our Discord – Vote on whether films stay in modern memory or are left forgotten. Visit https://www.moviememorymachine.com for access. Follow Us: 🌐 Website: https://www.moviememorymachine.com 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MovieMemoryMachine 🎞️ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/moviememorypod/