Grimm's Snow White

When we think of films based on the Snow White fairy tale, we think of Disney's version or Mirror Mirror or even Snow White and the Huntsman. However, several lesser known Snow White films exist.

Grimm's Snow White, released in 2012, is one example. Even though the title suggests the film is based on the original Grimm Brothers' tale, there are several changes to the story. One example is the addition of monstrous beasts. Elves have also replaced the dwarves. 

What about Snow White herself? While most iterations of the character have dark hair, Princess Snow of Whitevale is a blonde. That may make her stand out, but her beautiful blue dress makes her look a bit like Alice from Alice in Wonderland. Plus, even though Princess Snow speaks up and fights, she has no clear goal; Snow still gets pushed out of the castle by the evil Queen Gwendolyn.

One positive element of Snow's character, though, is her romantic relationship. She converses with her lover long before she dies from a poisonous ring. It is not the iconic poisoned apple, but the ring nods to the laces and comb from the original fairy tale. It also minimizes the consent issue from Disney's version.

The addition of monstrous beasts and replacement of dwarves with elves were more creative changes. Grimm's Snow White also successfully explains the beasts and the enslavement of elves within the first few minutes of the film. The elves' pointed ears look real, too. One problem, though, is that the elves wore outfits similar to those of humans, limiting their distinguishability. Plus, the CGI of the beasts is off; they look more fit for a video game than a live-action movie. 

Although the beasts look slightly fake, the fast-movement camera effects are impressive. The beasts are also depicted as terrifying, so much so that Grimm's Snow White is clearly PG-13. 

The color palette is bleak, but it fits the tone of the movie; a movie with "Grimm" in the title is expected to have a dark tone. Despite this, the green color of the grass gets pleasant to look at a few times. Still, those wanting more lighthearted content might struggle to engage with the visuals. 

There is nothing in Grimm's Snow White that makes it especially charming or memorable, but its deviations from the original fairy tale make it more interesting than it could have been. 

Have you seen or discovered Grimm's Snow White? What do you think about it?