Grade: F

“Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters” provides a “grimmer” delivery of the classic fairy tale. It takes an overused plot and throws in a complete lack of character development. It also douses it in gallons of blood and you have “Hansel & Gretel.”

The film, directed by rising director Tommy Wirkola, takes a new approach on the famous fairy tale written by the folklorist Brothers Grimm.

In the original story, German siblings Hansel and Gretel wander deep into the forest and discover a dream house made completely of candy. This dream becomes a nightmare when they discover a cannibalistic witch that lives inside.

After the two children narrowly escape becoming dinner, they kill the witch by trapping her in an oven. In Wirkola’s film, the two grow up and develop a passion (more of a bloodlust) for killing witches.

“Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters” is yet another failed attempt to convert a child’s tale into an adult-oriented action movie. Following in the footsteps of such films as “Red Riding Hood” and “Snow White and the Huntsman,” the movie completely misses the mark.

Filled with modern humor and lingo, “Hansel & Gretel” completely breaks the illusion of taking place in what the environment suggests is the Middle Ages. If this wasn’t enough, the two are fully equipment with a high-tech, witch-hunting arsenal (including, of course, a Gatling gun).

Overall, I would rate the movie as a low F. “Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters” is one fairy tale movie that won’t live happily ever after.