Hansel And Gretel: Witch Hunter From Paramount Home Media On June 11

Paramount Home Media Distribution announced this past week that writer/director Tommy Wirkola’s Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, a very different spin on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale about little Hansel and Gretel and their encounter with the fabled witch, will be heading home as DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack and 3D/2D Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack SKUs on June 11.

The ARR is 137 days and the domestic multiplex box office take was a nice $54.9 million.

What appeared to be a goofy idea for a horror tale — a fully-grown and leather-clad Gretel hunting down witches (along with her brother Hansel) — turned out to be an entertaining lark (just don’t take it too seriously).   Lots of blood, plenty of action and a film that self-important film critics love to hate.   Genre fans loved it!   And baby, that’s all that counts!!!

Gemma Arterton and Jeremy Renner

In the opening sequences we get the Brothers Grimm story and the youngsters outwitting the witch … and then we skip ahead and find the now adult Gretel (Gemma Arterton — Clash of the Titans, Quantum of Solace, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time) and her diabetic (all that candy took its toll) brother Hansel (Jeremy Renner — The Hurt Locker, The Town) are ace witch hunters.   And in their neck of the wood there are plenty of witches to tangle with.

They are good at it … and we soon discover the reason why.   The twist delivered by Wirkola cleverly sheds light on why their step-mother was so mean and nasty to them and how they are seemingly immune to spells cast by witches they battle.

Once the backstory is fully illuminated and alliances are formed, they are off to battle their most formidable witch foe, Muriel (Famke Janssen — Taken 2, House on Haunted Hill, X-Men, etc.), who will obtain power beyond comprehension if she able to perform the ceremony of the Blood Moon.

Famke Jannssen as the witch Muriel

Bonus goodies are limited to the two Blu-ray purchase options and include a trio of featurettes — “Reinventing Hansel & Gretel,” “The Witching Hours” and “Meet Edward the Troll” — plus an option to view an unrated version of the film (the theatrical cut received an R-rating, so we can’t imagine what had to be culled — graphically-speaking — to get it there).

To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report:  DVD & Blu-ray Release Report