The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf is a captivating blood fest of a tale that is a great way to get your feet with with the lore.
Going into The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf knowing nothing at all about the lore, was a lot easier than expected. This film was able to suck me right in with the animation style, the action, the blood and gore, and a really intriguing story. Fans of The Witcher live action series, books, and video games are sure to enjoy it as well considering that it is an important prequel to Geralt’s story.
This anime movie tells the story of Geralt’s mentor, Vesemir, and what a story it is! Witchers hunt and kill monsters, and he is one of the best. But when a new breed of monster starts terrorizing the lands, he discovers a lot more than he would like to. What follows is a bloody story, that is a complete joy to watch.
What Works With The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf
The best thing about this movie is that it doesn’t waste any time getting into the action. Within minutes there is an epic and blood filled battle on the screen that is stunning to watch. The animation style really works with a story like this one, because the monsters all look unique, creepy, and really freaking cool.
If you are someone who can get queasy with things like blood and gore, you might want to be prepared to look away. They push the envelope with this film, which viewers like me can appreciate. Let’s just say there is more than one instance where you see an eyeball hanging out of its socket — and each of them are glorious.
As for the voice cast, they all do a decent job, especially Vesemir. He is extremely believable as a young swashbuckling Witcher, who cares a lot about the coin, and has a blast killing monsters. The writing certainly helps this, as does the stunning animation. There are a lot of scenes that simply look gorgeous, no matter what murderous deeds are being done in them.
Do You Need To Know The Witcher Lore?
For someone who is completely new to the franchise, this is a good place to start. It very clearly takes place at the start of the lore, and does a great job explaining everything about it. Viewers learn who Witchers are, why they were created, and a whole lot more too. We get to know Vesemir, and might even get a glimpse at Geralt too.
This feels like a great lead in for the live action show, and considering it takes place before season 1, is a good place to start. With a captivating story like this one, it is sure to make newcomers eager to dive in to it all — I know it has me excited.
There are likely a few references and nods to things that those who are familiar with Witcher lore will appreciate, but missing them doesn’t take away from the overall experience of the movie.
What Doesn’t Work With The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf
While the movie is quite enjoyable, it is not perfect. There is some great animation, but there are few times it slips, especially on some close up face shots as people are talking. It is not bad enough to take away from the story, but it is noticeable here and there.
Another issue with this movie is that despite its short runtime, it does drag a little bit here and there. Of course the point of that is to get the dialogue out there character and story building, but when there is no action it is missed — which is to say that the action is by far the best, and more brutal part of the film.
Overall Thoughts
The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf is a great addition to the Witcher franchise and works well as a prequel to the live action series. For those wondering if the Witcher lore is for them, this is the perfect place to start. Due to the nature of the animation, they are able to pull off a lot more than they could with live action. The monsters are unique, deadly, and really cool looking. Of course there is a lot of insane action that include some blood and gore, too.
The overall story is very intriguing and captivating and is sure to hook those who know nothing about it. This is very clearly a set up for what is to come. Those who watch this movie first, are sure to be eager to dive right into the live action Netflix series, and learn even more about witchers and their world.
About The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf
The world of The Witcher expands in this anime origin story: Before Geralt, there was his mentor Vesemir — a swashbuckling young witcher who escaped a life of poverty to slay monsters for coin. But when a strange new monster begins terrorizing a politically-fraught kingdom, Vesemir finds himself on a frightening adventure that forces him to confront the demons of his past.
The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf comes to Netflix August 23rd.
