Gretel & Hansel (2020)

Starring: Blue, Donald

Directed by: Osgood Perkins

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: An updated version of the Grimms’ tale finds Gretel (Sophia Lillis) coming of age as she battles the reclusive witch (Alice Krige).

Cat Burglars (Scene Stealers): When Gretel and her little brother Hansel (Samuel Leakey) come upon the witch’s house they spy all kinds of delicious food inside. Hansel sneaks in through an opening. As he enters, a Sphynx cat can just barely be seen through a doorway in the background.

Gretel & Hansel - Sphynx cat in background

The cat, who is not named and is never seen interacting with the witch at all, is usually with the children in their room. Their first night in the witch’s home they have eaten themselves full. First the cat rubs against Gretel and then hops over to Hansel’s bed.

Gretel & Hansel - Sphynx cat with Gretel Sophie Lillis on bed
Gretel & Hansel - Sphynx cat with Gretel Sophie Lillis on bed animated gif
Gretel & Hansel - Sphynx cat on bed with Gretel Sophie Lillis and Hansel Samuel Leakey

Often when Gretel wakes from nightmares the first thing she sees is the cat sitting on Hansel’s bed.

Gretel & Hansel - Gretel Sophie Lillis looking at Sphynx cat on Hansel Samuel Leakey bed
Gretel & Hansel - Gretel Sophie Lillis looking at Sphynx cat on Hansel Samuel Leakey bed

In one shot the cat is again at the end of the hallway.

Gretel & Hansel - Sphynx cat in background

As Gretel shares her concerns with Hansel, the cat is on Gretel’s bed in the background. Unfortuately the cat jumps down from the bed at one point which leads to the animal being in some shots but not others in the same scene.

Gretel & Hansel - Sphynx cat on bed in background behind Gretel Sophie Lillis and Hansel Samuel Leakey
Gretel & Hansel - Sphynx cat on bed in background behind Gretel Sophie Lillis

After Gretel has defeated the witch she is seated with the cat on her lap.

Gretel & Hansel - Gretel Sophie Lillis with Sphynx cat on her lap
Gretel & Hansel - Gretel Sophie Lillis with Sphynx cat on her lap

The cat was played by two cat actors, Blue and his sister Donald (no that is not a typo, Donald is a female!) According to The Nenagh Guardian, an Irish newspaper, the Sphynx cats belong to Aimee Hanson, a veterinary nurse. The animal coordinators on the film were Rita Maloney and Phillipe Zone working for Fircroft Animal Actors.

Gretel & Hansel - Sphynx cat actor Blue

Final Mewsings: Cats can cause continuity errors.

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