If there’s witch-hunting to be done, it has to be by professionals, and, the siblings insist, “The only good witch is a dead witch.”
They contend with loutish Sheriff Berringer (Peter Stormare) and their arch-enemy Muriel (Famke Janssen), leader of the “dark witches.” They have to stop her before the coming of the “blood moon,” which involves the sacrifice of children by a coven of plug-uglies on a mountaintop.
They also have to deal with their abandonment issues, their mother having been a “white witch,” Hansel’s diabetes from all the sugar he consumed as a child, and his attraction to Mina. The result is more a noisy, numbing, immoral assault than a viewing experience.
The film contains pervasive gory violence, a vengeance theme, fleeting rear and upper female nudity and some rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O – morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R – restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Jensen is a guest reviewer for Catholic News Service.
