3 star fun adaptation of a classic tale.
Rumpelstiltskin is a 2025 British independent horror film, written and directed by Andy Edwards (Punch, Graphic Desires) and based on the traditional story of the same name from The Brothers Grimm.
Following its World Premiere at FrightFest Glasgow in March, it is available to stream on UK Digital Platforms from 7th April 2025 courtesy of Miracle Media.
“Do not jest, Miller’s daughter. There are wolves out here and worse. Much worse. I’ve heard tales that would make the skin crawl off your bones.”
As the film opens, we see proudly promiscuous Miller’s daughter Evalina (Hannah Baxter-Eve – Escape) heading off into the woods with Woodcutter’s son Jakob (Chris Mills – The Other Side) for a tumble in the hay. He warns of evil creatures who dwell in these woods, but she has no fear.
Meanwhile, at the palace, Queen Aritrea (Sarah Jane Duncan – Cara, Vengeance) has just given birth to a baby girl, a fatal mistake which angers the King (Colin Malone – The Recruiter), who wanted a male heir and puts her head on a pike outside the gates. 
This leaves an opening and when the loathsome Sir Lothar (Adrian Bouchet – Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1, Those About to Die (TV Series)) turns up at the home of the Miller (Mark Cook) to demand tribute, he has an idea.
He and his frisky daughter will masquerade as nobles and vie for the Kings hand in marriage. Unfortunately, he is recognised by Lothar and the King threatens to throw them in the tower. In desperation, the Miller tells him that Evalina can spin straw into gold and the King agrees to spare them if it is true. 
Locked in a tower and not knowing how to spin, let alone create gold, all seems lost until an imp (Joss Carter – Tarot) appears. He can spin gold, he says and all for a small price, a kiss.
She agrees and he does produce the gold. However, the King is greedy and demands more. Again the creature helps, but each time the price is higher until eventually she agrees to give her firstborn child. This was always going to be a bad idea.
“You know I care not for your youthful dalliances, but when the whole bleeding village knows of them, what chance have I got of marrying you off?”
Rumpelstiltskin is a fun film to watch. It stays true to the traditional themes of the story, set in medieval times and giving out an enthusiastic historical recreation society vibe which goes really well. 
The locations are amazing and really lend lots of atmosphere to the film and the acting is pretty good too.
Where the modern aspect really stands out is the language, which is fruity (to put it mildly) and plentiful and not terribly traditional, although it is entertaining. There are a few additional elements added to the original story, which help to explain the motives of Rumpelstiltskin a little better and there is a fair bit of quite scary horror too.
All in all, a refreshing take on an old fairy tale and well worth a watch.
“You have my word, and my word is bond, that I shall look but never touch. Besides, I don’t believe our nether regions to be compatible for fornication, do you?”
Rumpelstiltskin is available now on UK Digital Platforms.
| Director | Andy Edwards |
| Genre | Horror |
| Starring | Hannah Baxter-Eve, Joss Carter, Colin Malone, Adrian Bouchet |