Late this month, The Huntsman: Winter’s War will be hitting the cinemas, starring Charlize Theron, Emily Blunt, Chris Hemsworth and Jessica Chastain.
Set in the years before 2012’s Snow White and the Huntsman, we meet Eric the Huntsman (Hemsworth) and his forbidden lover Sara (Chastain) as they set out to battle two evil sisters who are preparing to conquer the land.
To get you in the mood, we’ve compiled our three favourite gritty fairy tales all available on Blu-ray:
Maleficent
Based on the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty but told from the perspective of the antagonist, Maleficent tells the story of a young pure-hearted woman who grows up in a peaceful forest kingdom. Life is good, until an invading army threatens the peace. As she rises to protect the land, Maleficent places a curse on the new leader’s first born child, which grows up to be Princess Aurora.
Starring Angelina Jolie, Imelda Staunton and Elle Fanning, Maleficent is a must-own for any fairy tale fan. The Blu-ray comes with a number of special features, including a look at Fanning’s portrayal of Princess Aurora, deleted scenes and a documentary on the costume design.
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters
Jeremy Renner and Gemma Art
erton team up in Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, which takes an alternative look at the traditional fairy tale, where the siblings slay the witch that captures them and grow up to be notorious witch hunters. The pair are summoned by a worried mayor, and are tasked with finding eleven children who have gone missing from the village. Believed to be the work of an evil witch, Hansel & Gretel set off on the trail. Little do they know that they’re about to uncover a whole new kind of evil…
The Blu-ray comes with a number of bonus extras, including a documentary about the classic tale, a closer look at the plot and an examination of the film’s troll character.
Pan’s Labyrinth
A true modern classic, Pan’s Labyrinth tells the story of a young girl growing up in 1940s Spain. Fascinated by fairy tales, she is sent along with her mother to live with her new 
stepfather, a captain in the Spanish army. One night, a magical fairy appears who tells her that she is actually a princess, but must prove herself in a deadly labyrinth before she is granted her title. If she passes, she will be able to see her real father, the king, again.
The Blu-ray comes with a whole host of special features that are sure to get any fantasy fan excited. They include documentaries about the myths behind the film, interviews with the director and an exclusive look at the movie’s storyboard.
