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! Enjoyed the episode? Leave a review on your favorite podcast platform—we’d love to feature your feedback.   💡 Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/gruntworkpod 🌐 Visit our website: http://www.moviememorymachine.com/ 📱 Follow us on Social Media: Facebook: Movie Memory Machine Instagram: @MovieMemoryMachine Threads: @MovieMemoryMachine Bluesky: @MovieMemoryMachine YouTube: @MovieMemoryMachine Letterboxd: @MovieMemoryPod 🎵 Theme Song by Porky’s Groove Machine: https://porkysgroovemachine.com/   SEO Keywords Gretel and Hansel mini-episode, Oz Perkins horror, Sophia Lillis movies, Alice Krige witch roles, dark fairytale movies, horror movie food scenes, trippy mushrooms in film, Movie Memory Machine podcast