Lay out some breadcrumbs, so you don't lose your way in the darkest corner of the woods where you will discover some of the grimmest fairytales.
Young Gretel learns that growing up has its challenges, especially for someone as gifted as she is. This might save her brother from a deranged witch, but everything comes at a price, and in exchange for Gretel’s ability, she must uphold her calling by shining a light on the dark that once took hold of the forest. Below are fifteen films like Gretel and Hansel.
15. Into the Woods
Into the Woods Trailer
Into the Woods isn’t your traditional find your prince fairytale. No, this is about two lovers, a baker, and his wife, burdened by a witch’s curse, but for it to be lifted, they must help the witch get a few items along the way. On their journey, the loving couple meets a few familiar faces. They procure the witch’s items and band together with their fairytale friends to cast out the evil after them in an all too familiar Hansel and Gretel type way.
14. Black Sunday (1960)
Black Sunday Trailer HD
This film isn’t about sibling love, but rather a long-held grudge by Asa Vadja. After her brother sentences her to death, she curses his descendants. Hundreds of years have passed, and the chance for revenge is upon Asa. A doctor and one of the descendants enter the catacombs where it is their destiny to finish what Asa’s brother never could– burn her to death.
13. Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (2010)
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark 2010 Trailer
Something lurks in the basement of Blackwood Manor, and it’s craving the teeth of children. This is not the tooth fairy, but something more sinister. Luckily for the creature, eight-year-old Sally just moved in with her dad and his girlfriend. She encounters the hostile entity several times before her parents decide it’s probably not normal to live with creepy tooth craving creatures. Will they be able to get out before they take Sally?
12. Apostle
Apostle Official Trailer
Thomas ventures out to save his sister, Jennifer, from a rising cult powered by blood sacrifice. He demands answers, and the cult leader explains his sister’s blood will appease the deity, which keeps the lands fertile. Thomas wonders down a tunnel which inadvertently leads him to a barn where the deity is being held. She shares her truth, and soon, Thomas realizes they have the same destiny.
11. The Blair Witch Project
The Blair Witch Project Trailer
Legend tells of a witch who ordered a hermit to kidnap and kill several children. The gruesome tale stayed with the townspeople, and a group of film students documents their journey to uncover the truth about the Blair Witch. They soon realize it’s more than a fable when they come across hanging figures made of their friend’s clothing. Will they escape the witch’s clutch?
10. Sinister
Sinister Trailer
Ellison is a writer who found inspiration by moving his family into the house where a murder occurred. He researches his new book by investigating the house, where he stumbles upon a box filled with old videos. The tapes depict horrific murders of the house’s inhabitants, and even more questions like, where did the children go? That question is soon answered when it’s his family’s turn to face the child abducting demon.
9. Hansel and Gretel (2007)
Hansel and Gretel Trailer
A salesman crashes his car and wakes up to a young girl who leads him to a house. He realizes these are not your average children. They have no parents and lure unsuspecting victims back with them. Here, the salesman follows the children into the forest but is careful enough to leave a trail of breadcrumbs. He’s going to need it because he is on a wild journey against the powerful children who have a grudge against the adults.
8. The Hallow
The Hallow Trailer HD
Deep in the forest lies a mystical creature called the hallow. Don’t be fooled by the whimsical name, because they want nothing more than to abduct your beloved children. If that’s not bad enough, the hallow replaces your own child with a changeling. For Adam, it takes him a broken leg, and a pierced eye to convince his wife their newborn baby isn’t really theirs. With a flash of light, Adam knows what he has to do to save his baby.
7. The Witches (1990)
The Witches Trailer
Who needs to lure kids with endless sweets and camaraderie? Witches have developed a new potion that turns those pesky children into mice, and the delivery system is fool-proof–sprinkle it on all the sweets at a bakery. Sounds good, right? Except young Luke has heard everything these witches plan, and even though he may have ingested the potion, his little mouse form is determined to save the kids of the world.
6. The Woods
The Woods Trailer
Cast out by her family like Hansel and Gretel once was, young Heather attends a boarding school deep in the woods. She adjusts to her life at the academy, until her classmates begin to disappear. She warns a local police officer, but he is no match against the forces at play. Heather finds herself entangled in the forest, but it isn’t long before everything comes burning down to stop the witches from abducting children.
5. The Witch
The Witch Trailer
In the 1600s, the family of William is cast out of their colony. They settle down and build their new home at the edge of a forest. William’s newborn suddenly disappears, and the entire family is devastated. Their daughter Thomasin, however, displays strange behavior. It isn’t long before the other children are cast under some sort of trance and start acting strangely.
4. Ma
Ma Official Trailer
Underage party-goers meet the charming Sue Ann (Ma), who just wants to have a good time. She lends them her basement to do what they will as long as she gets in on the fun. The party comes to an abrupt end when their host becomes possessive of the group.
3. Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?
Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? Trailer
Two orphans, Christopher and Katy, tag along to a Christmas dinner hosted at the wealthy manor owned by Auntie Roo. Katy reminds Auntie Roo of her late daughter Katherine, and before the end of the party, she goes missing. Although she promises everyone she will search for Katy, Christopher has a feeling she actually abducted her. He breaks back into the manor but is trapped there. They attempt to escape, but the once sweet Roo is deranged and out to get them.
2. He’s Out There
He's Out There Trailer
A family arrives at their vacation home. The father is still on his way, but their two daughters explore the area. They walk to the middle of the woods, where it seems a tea party has been displayed just for them. The girls each take a cupcake, as any child would, but this action sets into motion a deranged man’s plan to hunt them.
1. The Wicked (2013)
The Wicked Trailer
A child-eating witch haunts the house called Open Hearth. It is said she gains her youth from the girls, and strength from little boys. A boy called Max tags along with his older brother Zach, and his friends, to the old house. They foolishly break one of the windows with a rock, and the witch appears. She hunts each and every one of them, bringing them to a grisly end. Luckily, one of Zach’s friends has enough sense to call for help, but the police think their situation is a joke. So much for telling the truth.
