Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters has had a troubled journey getting to screens. Originally slated to arrive in cinemas last year, the film was delayed for a year and underwent substantial editing changes.  According to the film’s director, Tommy Wirkola – this was all due to a dispute over the level of violence in the film – which is surprising considering just how very red and wet the movie being released this Friday actually is.  The reimagining of the classic Brothers Grimm tale cast Hansel and Gretel (Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton) as adults who have made it their lives work to hunt and kill the broom riding, child eating witches that almost ate them as children.  Head squashing, bodies torn limb from limb, and just good ol’ fashioned decapitation ensue.  So how much more violent could the original cut have been?

In the following interview with Wirkola, he discusses just how violent the film used to be and the scene that was just too much for test audiences.  He also talks about his affinity for blending horror with comedy, shooting the picture in 3D and his just-finished-written sequel to Dead Snow. For the full interview, hit the jump.