Here, we have a recent, more grown-up cinematic retelling of the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale, which concerns a miller's daughter making a deal with a forest imp. This new version has a darker, more adult hue with swearier language, sexual suggestion, and fleeting nudity, though until its last quarter, it remains a period drama with fantasy edges...where, after more horror elements come in. Here from Miracle Media is a VOD release of the film.

Rumpelstiltskin is a 2025 English production-   it’s both directed and written by (?) Birmingham-born Andy Edwards. He started his directing career in 2010, been part of a few horror anthology films such as House Party Of The Dead 6 ( 2010), Threes A Shroud (2012), and Grindsploitation (2016). He has then gone on to helm four other features, taking in Zombie Spring Breakers (2016), Graphic Designs (2022), Midnight Peepshow (2022), and last year's Brit seaside set slasher Punch- which I was impressed/ taken by.

Those eagle-eyed will have noted a question mark after the written by claim- well, this, for all intents and purposes, is the original Brothers Grimm story- with a few more adult language in, lightly sexual intent, darting nudity, and horror elements added in- so suggest he wrote it all is bold/ incorrect….anyway lets get into the film it’s self.

The whole thing has good production standards- the acting is fine to good throughout- for our leads, we have  Hannah Baxter-Eve as Evalina, the blonde, braided-haired miller's daughter, who has slept with most of the village, and has an outspoken/ no-nonsense attitude. Rumpelstiltskin is played by Joss Carter- initially he wears a black weaved face mask, but later reveals himself as green-faced with a long grey goatee. The pair have decent back-and-forth banter.

As mentioned earlier, the film follows the original fairy tale fairly closely-  Evalina is locked up after her father boasts his daughter can spin gold from straw- Rumpelstiltskin appears, and makes three deals with her to spin three lots of gold thread- first to get a kiss, then to see her naked, lastly to take her firstborn. Added in we have that she goes on to become the queen, and a few other light adjustments.

The film is fine for what it is- a period drama with fantasy elements,  but with Mr Edwards name attached, I was expecting more horror, but alas, as I’ve already mentioned this doesn’t appear until the last twenty minutes of the film, and again it’s more of fantasy/ horror blend.

So, in conclusion, if you're looking for an updated, swearier, lightly crass humour-edged telling of the Rumpelstiltskin story in a period setting, you’ll be fine with what we have here. But if, like me, you were expecting an out-and-out horror take on the fairy tale, you’ll feel somewhat let down/ disappointed by what’s on offer here.