Mediocre, even for a kids story. The main character is poorly written. Fegley did a good enough job acting, but the writing was just poor. I loved the cat. Actually, the cat was the best character in the movie. So perfect for this sort of film. The cat and the sandwich, just awesome.
Overall, I was hoping for so much more. I loved the 1001 Arabian Nights concept, but the setup was so forced as to just be stupid. The lure and trap was so silly as to be lame. The lure could have been so much more intriguing and more integrated with he trap. Are we really to believe Alex is so stupid/rude as to enter a stranger's apartment and eat a piece of pie that is sitting out? Then after being trapped and confronted, Alex says the one thing the witch wants to hear even though it makes absolutely no sense for the kid to even say it. How would anyone jump to the conclusion that writing scary stories would be "useful". That could have been so much more interesting if development had been allowed to happen in a more natural way. Some repartee between Alex and Natacha would have been a great way to get things going. It would have cost a few minutes and got the movie off to a much better start. There was definitely enough slowness that could have been cut to free up the time.
Absolutely delightful. It's significantly more fun and creepy than I expected and also more creative with its storytelling and visuals. Usually these family-oriented horror films are very shallow with generic plot and too heavy on the comedy but this one has decent tension and doesn't hold back with the scares while still maintaining the warmth and wholesomeness you usually find on family horror. The acting from both lead characters is pretty impressive and Krysten Ritter looks like having she's having fun with her role.
Very enjoyable movie (watched it twice). The kids really enjoyed it...
Verdict: Thumbs up !
We enjoyed it. It's basically Hansel and Gretel with a different spin. Had some typical horror movie stuff that never makes any sense. If you're going to escape why stand there with the door open watching what's going on in the house? The kids enjoyed it so I guess that's what really matters.
A boy gives up writing due to being bullied for it. A witch (Krysten Ritter) captures him and forces him to write for her and he struggles to tell a story she’d enjoy. Though the pacing feels off. The movie is well cast and well made.
Movies if you enjoyed this.: Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting, Vampires in the Bronx
Really fantastic throughout, such a unique movie! but had an average pre-climax. Resolution is ok and good enough. But the first 3/4th of the movie though, absolutely loved that part!!!
Plus: Main leads acting is one of the best. The little kid who played Alex will go places. He's such a natural and so good. The other two female leads playing Natacha and Yasmin are absolutely fantastic too. Casting is top notch. Super!!
Minus: The pre-climax, it could've went so much bigger at the end but stopped itself short and quickly. But the resolution is fine!
Story: A
Presentation: A
Execution: A-
Score: A-
Very nice movie. Not really for children, a little too scary.
Surprisingly frightening for a kid's movie! I love Krysten Ritter so I wish she had gotten more to do -- like be a little more campy or a little more evil, instead of just sort of middle-ground. A bit of a predictable plot, super fun costume designs (especially on Krysten), overall a fine film.
The boy is a good actor.
Nothing else is good about this movie.
Constant screaming. Annoying.
Too scary for small kids.
I don't know if it's so bad that it's good that I had to see it till the end but half way through the movie I started rooting for the witch.
I only watched the movie for Krysten Ritter
I mean it's a kids film so don't expect much
Well it entertained me but could of been better with a predicable ending that I'd of like it going the other way and I did like most of the cast but Krysten Ritter was a little cheesy and the effects weren't bad.
[Netflix] A horror story starring children, which at least is not a very common subgenre. Step by step, it drifts towards a version of "Hansel and Gretel", and step by step its interest also disappears. There is a production design that manages to mix the macabre with the lavish, but the story finally ends up being predictable and less extravagant than it seemed at first. The witch Jessica Jones is very funny.
Here's my biggest issue: I don't know who can take this "diet" version of Lady Gaga for a witch seriously these days. One that wants to hear - scary stories, at that. The way she's bored and annoyed by the details Alex gets wrong, probably because he's never been taught any of those in the first place, I'd say she can't even take herself seriously. Maybe a more prominent actress could've done the character justice, but Krysten Ritter just wasn't it. Once you get past this... Both the plot and the pacing just meander every which way. It's a shame, because when it has a little time, the movie does manage to grow a certain atmosphere, and maybe, just maybe, if this had been released a little later, it could've been a nice Halloween flick for the kids. In some way, it did give me a sort weird Hocus Pocus spinoff/remake vibe.
This is an interesting, unique retelling of Hansel & Gretel.
How I rate:
1-3 :heart: = seriously! don't waste your time
4-6 :heart: = you may or may not enjoy this
7-8 :heart: = I expect you will like this too
9-10 :heart: = movies and TV shows I really love!
Shout by Lee Brown Barrow Movie BuffVIP 3BlockedParent2021-09-15T22:52:00Z
With a better script, this could have been a Halloween classic for the kids. The actors are good and the special effects are fine but the plotting is all over the place. This is a shame as while it is largely enjoyable, there was the potential for something better.