Review: The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf

Overview:

Set some years before the events of Netflix’s The Witcher series. The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf tells the story of Geralt’s mentor, Vesemir. Monsters are running amok in Kaedwen and some think it’s the witcher’s fault. Namely, a young sorceress named Tetra Gilcrest. There are some who still support the witchers though, such as the noblewoman Lady Zerbst who seems to have a link to Vesemir’s past. Can Vesemir solve the mystery before all witchers become hunted?

Our Take(Possible Spoilers):

Studio Mir just keeps cranking out solid stuff. They made the Netflix original anime DOTA: Dragon’s Blood (you can read my review here ) earlier this year. Netflix is proving that if you want a videogame adaption done well just come to them. DOTA was way better than a show based on a MOBA had any right being. I probably don’t need to tell you how amazing the Castlevania animated series is either. How about The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf? Does it stack up with their other work? Let’s get into it.

The story follows Vesemir, a witcher who will eventually mentor Geralt of Rivia. The protagonist of The Witcher Netflix series and the books it is based on. A lot of fans (myself included) have been waiting to get a Vesemir prologue story. And let me tell you this movie doesn’t disappoint. The action is well animated, the voice acting is spot on, and the story is one worth telling.

Witchers are looked down on as almost as bad as the monsters they hunt. In fact, if there weren’t any more monsters then humankind would probably start hunting them instead. It’s gotten to the point where some think that witchers are making monsters to avoid being targeted and to have a steady income. The one leading the charge is a sorceress, Tetra Gilcrest who possibly has her own reason for hating witchers.

One of the few knocks I have on the film is how near the end it gets a bit confusing. A couple of twists are thrown your way and it’s hard to keep up with who the antagonist’s really are and who you should be rooting for. This could just be a me thing but it definitely didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the movie. It was quickly resolved and you definitely know where every character stands once the battle lines are drawn.

Speaking of battle lines, the fight scenes in this film are a joy to watch. Studio Mir has been no stranger to animation and it shows. The way they show the unique way witchers fight was amazing to see. You could argue it’s easier to do in animated form but either way, I was still impressed. Whenever Vesemir uses his fire sign Igni, you can almost feel the flames. The monsters are also terrifying to look at. All the animation was top notch and I think Studio Mir is going to be busy with more projects soon.

I think Theo James should just become a full-time voice actor at this point. He did amazing as Hector in Castlevania and plays the lead Vesemir in this. I really liked how he expressed all sorts of different emotions and you could feel the journey Vesemir went on through his voice.

Laura Pulver might have a thing with Studio Mir or Netflix. This is her second project with them this year, with the other one being DOTA: Dragon’s Blood where she played Mirana. I really like the work she has put in and she is one of the reasons I am looking forward to the second season of DOTA.

Netflix really knocked it out of the park with this one. It’s a good film in its own right and does a great job of building hype for the upcoming second season of The Witcher. This is a definite must-watch for anyone who’s a fan of The Witcher whether it’s the series, books, or the games. Even if you aren’t a fan of the franchise yet this is a great entry point as it explains a lot of the different points of the world. I can’t recommend this movie enough, it’s a great companion piece to any part of the series you enjoy.