The Brothers Grimm (2005) Movie Review (Christian Perspective): A Dark Fantasy Tale Gone Wrong

In this review of The Brothers Grimm, we will explore the dark fantasy film from a Christian perspective. Contains a parent guide.

The Brothers Grimm Christian Review: Synopsis

Matt Damon and the late Heath Ledger star as Wilhelm (Will) and Jacob (Jake) Grimm, the famous storytellers behind fairy tales like Snow White, Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, and Little Red Riding Hood. In this dark fantasy film, the Brothers Grimm are con men who stage supernatural events and claim to have the power to eliminate paranormal threats.

However, when their name lands on the radar of a French military officer, they’re sent to investigate a mysterious village plagued by bizarre supernatural activity and the disturbing disappearances of young girls. They’re tasked with finding the supposed con artists behind these events—but soon realize they’re in far over their heads. Will they rescue the missing girls, and who is truly behind the kidnappings?

The Brothers Grimm Christian Review: An Exploration of the Dark Fairy Tale

My First Time Watching The Brothers Grimm

While browsing the library’s film collection, I stumbled upon The Brothers Grimm, a fantasy adventure film I had never heard of. It stars Heath Ledger, whom I knew from A Knight’s Tale, a lighthearted, rock-infused story about knights, and Matt Damon (need I say more?).

One of the things that stood out to me was the mention of director Terry Gilliam, best known for his work with Monty Python and the Holy Grail. While that film isn’t a personal favorite, I recognize it as a comedic classic.

I enjoy fairytale retellings, and as a hopeful novelist, I’ve had many a book idea based on fairytales. I even wrote a short story based on Blue Beard…yeah, it didn’t turn out great. But I digress.

I expected a humorous, fantasy-filled take on traditional fairy tales—something my dad would enjoy, since he loves comedy.

An Unexpectedly Dark Viewing Experience

When I suggested borrowing the film, my dad recalled seeing The Brothers Grimm in theaters during a late-night showing (which caused him to fall asleep and miss most of it), so he was on board when I suggested we give it a try. And wow—what a mistake. I had no idea what I was getting into. This was not a light fantasy movie. I’ll never watch it again.

How Dark Is The Brothers Grimm? Plugged In Says It Best

Plugged In describes it this way:

“Think about what it would look like to add five or six layers of darkness and spiritual confusion to Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and you get an idea of how grim The Brothers Grimm is.”

Poor Ratings and Mixed Reception

The film received a 38% rating from critics and a 39% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, and has a 5.9/10 on IMDb—indicating it wasn’t well received.

The production quality was decent—though some of the CGI effects weren’t the best, they were fairly realistic overall. With so many big names attached to The Brothers Grimm, including Matt Damon, Heath Ledger, and director Terry Gilliam, the film wasn’t overly lacking in terms of visual or technical quality.

Overcomplicated Plot and Occult Themes

The storyline is overly complicated for casual viewing. My father, a film buff and award-winning cinematographer back in the day, noted how confusing the plot was—and I’ll admit, I had to look up a plot summary halfway through just to keep up.

I quickly lost interest and found myself distracted on my phone, but honestly, this is the kind of movie where that feels justified. I don’t plan to rewatch it.

Due to the film’s heavy occult themes and my lack of focus while watching this one, I’m pointing readers to Plugged In for a full parent guide. The disturbing spiritual elements make The Brothers Grimm an especially uncomfortable viewing experience for Christian audiences.

Why This Film Feels More Like Horror Than Fantasy

While not marketed explicitly as a horror movie, The Brothers Grimm definitely falls into the horror or dark fantasy category. I don’t typically watch horror—it’s not a genre I enjoy, and it makes me deeply uncomfortable.

This film features many disturbing creatures and terrifying situations. Early on, when Will and Jake are still running scams, they stage fake exorcisms—including one involving a realistically designed “witch” that is very unsettling to watch.

Although it’s later revealed that this particular scene was a hoax, the movie quickly shifts into genuine horror territory. There are creepy beetles, eerie shadow creatures, and even a horse with cobwebs coming out of its mouth that eats a child. It’s gruesome, dark, and undeniably inappropriate for younger viewers or those sensitive to horror, especially Christian viewers seeking uplifting content.

Occult Content and Spiritual Concerns for Christians

The film’s disturbing tone doesn’t just stem from its horror elements—it’s also heavily influenced by its occult themes. For Christians, these elements are especially concerning. The Bible is very clear about avoiding occult practices (Deuteronomy 18:10–12 is often cited in discussions like this).

I don’t avoid every fantasy story with magic, but I do look at the source of the magic and whether it reflects real-world occult practices or promotes them in a positive light. The Brothers Grimm presents occultism not just as part of the villain’s arsenal, but in a way that feels deeply uncomfortable for Christian viewers. While it condemns evil occultism, it doesn’t challenge the spiritual dangers of occultism itself.

A Villain Inspired by Dark Fairy Tales

The film’s antagonist is a centuries-old queen who lives in a tall tower (reminiscent of Rapunzel), obsessed with regaining her youth and beauty (much like Mother Gothel or the Evil Queen from Snow White). She captures twelve young girls, places them in crypts, and steals their blood with the intent to drink it and restore herself.

Her tower is eventually destroyed when a protagonist recites a curse, and the girls are brought back to life after Jake kisses the heroine. Characters are cursed and manipulated by dark forces, including one of the main leads. The entire plot is soaked in themes of witchcraft, curses, and blood rituals.

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FAQs for The Brothers Grimm

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Final Thoughts: Not Worth Watching for Christian Viewers

From a Christian standpoint, this story doesn’t offer anything spiritually beneficial. Plugged In puts it best:

More horror than adventure, the movie depicts a scary, spooky world filled with evil spirits, horrifying beasts, enchanted beings and sinister spells.

I strongly recommend skipping The Brothers Grimm in favor of more uplifting or redemptive fairytale stories like Ever After, Ella Enchanted, or even Into the Woods (with discretion).

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Parent Guide for The Brothers Grimm (2005)

I usually try to offer comprehensive and detailed parent guides, but I just can’t with this one. I didn’t pay close enough attention, didn’t want to pay closer attention, and I have no desire to rewatch it. So instead of a full breakdown, here’s a brief overview of what stood out followed by some additional content guide resources I recommend.

Violence & Gore

This film is what I’d call horror-adjacent. There are many intense and disturbing scenes—definitely not suitable for children, and even some adults may find them unsettling.

• Children are kidnapped in gruesome ways
• One child is devoured by a monstrous, mutant horse
• The evil queen controls the forest and sends her eerie minions to do her bidding
• The overall atmosphere is very dark and creepy

Occult Warning

Extremely heavy and concerning.

• Blood drinking
• Witchcraft and witches
• Occult-style magic (not fantasy-based)
• A pentagram drawn on the floor during an exorcism
  This is one of the most occult-laden movies I’ve ever watched, and it’s not subtle.

Language

There is some swearing, though it’s not constant.

Sexual Content

There are a few suggestive moments, including a Grimm brother in bed with two women in “old fashioned undergarments,” but nothing explicit or graphic.

Spiritual Concerns

As mentioned in the main review, this film is filled with troubling content from a Christian lens. The occult elements are intense, and the film offers no clear moral stance against them—making it even more concerning. The “heroes” don’t distance themselves from evil clearly enough. I’d personally recommend skipping it.

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Additional Resources

If you’d like a second opinion or more details, here are a few helpful sites for Christian and family-based content breakdowns:

• Plugged In – Christian reviews of movies, shows, and more
• Parent Previews – Offers insight from a values-based perspective
• IMDb Parent Guide – User-generated breakdowns of content
• Common Sense Media – General family-oriented guide

Cover Photo Credit: Screenshot from The Brothers Grimm trailer from Miramax under fair use for review/commentary/criticism/education. All rights retained by respective owners.