MOVIE REVIEW: The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf

Although many shows have attempted to replicate the success of Game of Thrones, at least in terms of adapting a successful fantasy series to the small screen, The Witcher thus far may have come the closest. In fairness, much of that success is built on the good will built up by the video game series by CD Projekt Red, many of which are still fan favorites. At the same time, there’s no question that Henry Cavill has successfully taken the role of Geralt, and the Netflix Witcher series has been a faithful take on the novels by Andrzej Sapkowski. That success has opened the door to other Witcher projects, and Netflix understandably would seek to build anticipation for the second season of the live-action Witcher show.

In the meantime, we have The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, a feature-length animated movie that takes place before the live-action series. The focus of the animated film centers on Vesemir, Geralt’s mentor and father figure, and another member of the order of Witchers. This takes place during Geralt’s youth, where he was being trained by the Witchers at the fortress of Kaer Morhen. This is an interesting setting for a prequel film, since the assault on Kaer Morhen by mutant-hating fanatics is a good event to build a story around. Moreover, Vesemir is an interesting character in his own right, and his expected appearance in Witcher Season 2 allows this film to be an introductory chapter to Vesemir for new viewers. Conceptually, this animated film is an idea that makes sense, and I can respect Netflix for making this decision, especially given the long wait until Season 2 of the main Witcher series.

As it turns out, Vesemir is quite a good protagonist for this film, offering a good contrast to Geralt as well as a solid character arc. Where Geralt is stoic, grim, and sardonic, Vesemir is more of a fun, swashbuckling presence in this film. It’s interesting to see him as a younger man, making mistakes and becoming obsessed with coin after growing up a servant in a noblewoman’s house. It’s also compelling to see how Vesemir changes during the film, growing gradually into the seasoned and mature master Witcher that he would become in Geralt’s time. Vesemir suffers losses in this movie, dealing with betrayal and tragedy, but we see how he becomes the Witcher that Geralt needs him to be. The journey into that man is satisfying, and Vesemir’s character is interesting enough that you shouldn’t miss Geralt too much.

As far as the main story is concerned, Nightmare of the Wolf is a loose adaptation, but it works reasonably well for what it is. The story respects the major events leading to the attack on Kaer Morhen, even if it doesn’t reflect the source material exactly. Certain characters involved are a bit different, certain events play out differently, but the important things are still intact in this version. The fanatics are still involved with the assault, and the mages who created the Witcher mutagens are still wiped out. However, there are different elements, such as the character of Deglan, a Witcher who represents the opposite extreme from the humans. There’s also the addition of Tetra, a mage who has a fanatical hatred of Witchers and who fans the flames that spark the massacre of Kaer Morhen. Witcher purists may take issue with certain details as presented here, but the film works within the context of the Netflix series even if it doesn’t exactly fit with the books and games. Moreover, the film works on a thematic level, offering moral complexity to its narrative in the way that a good Witcher story should. By the end of the film, the viewer may even be left wondering whether it’s for the best that the Witchers cannot continue their line by the time of Geralt of Rivia. Nothing is as simple as it seems in the Witcher universe, and the script does a good job with the series’ complex morality.

The art style of the animated film also suits the flavor of the Witcher series. Kwang Il Han is a director with extensive experience in animation, including Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, The Legend of Korra, Voltron: Legendary Defender, and Mortal Kombat Legends. That experience serves him well here, and the action scenes flow well visually even if they don’t have the deep gritty realism of the games or the show. The setting and backgrounds are properly detailed and suit the visual style of the world of the Witcher that we’ve seen in other media. However, the visual characterization is on point, especially during some of the darker scenes affecting Vesemir. The younger Vesemir looks different from how he’s traditionally portrayed, but the character design suits a more swashbuckling persona as he’s presented in this film. The animation takes advantage of the medium, going big with its presentation of the creatures and monsters in the film. All in all, this is a good-looking animated movie, fast-paced and visually consistent with the Witcher.

The voice cast maintains a solid level of quality and they work in their roles. Theo James is best known as Four from the Divergent films, but don’t let that dissuade you; he’s quite good as the younger Vesemir. James has found new life in working on Netflix films in voice work, and he makes Vesemir sound like a swashbuckling hero. At the same time, he brings emotional depth to the performance, whether it’s his complicated romance with Illyana or the pain of betrayal and loss. Mary McDonnell puts in a good effort as Lady Zerbst, sounding like a noblewoman while also bringing warmth in her scenes with Vesemir. It’s good to hear Lara Pulver in this film, as I quite enjoyed her work as Irene Adler on Sherlock; she’s good in antagonistic roles, especially complex ones like Tetra. Graham McTavish likewise works well in the role of the Witcher Deglan, bringing authority and gravitas to the role. Tom Canton returns to voice Filavandrel, keeping the level of elvish dignity he brought to his appearance in Witcher Season 1. I’m always glad to see Jennifer Hale here as well, even in a smaller role, as she’s one of my favorite voice actresses. There are no bad performances in this feature, and the recognizable actors disappear into their roles quite well in this film.

Although I’m unsure if The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf will satisfy those who came in as fans of the books or the games, it is a good addition to the Witcher Netflix universe. The movie expands on the existing world of the television show, giving context to past events while remaining true to the spirit of the series. If that sounds like something that interests you, it should whet the appetite for more Witcher, at least until Season 2 finally comes out.

Score: 4/5

Director: Kwang Il Han
Writer: Beau DeMayo
Cast: Theo James, Mary McConnell, Lara Pulver, Graham McTavish, Tom Canton, David Errigo Jr., Jennifer Hale, Kari Wahlgren, Nolan North

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Steve Sellers

Steve Sellers had been a fan of superheroes ever since Superman: The Movie. But it took the JSA, the Legion of Super-Heroes, Dragonlance, Lord of the Rings, Twilight Zone, and Chris Claremont's legendary run on the X-Men to make him a writer and a longtime fan of comics, fantasy, and science fiction. Steve is the co-creator of WHITE DRUID & MICHAEL NERO and GUARDIANS OF ELAYIM for Omen Comics, and he is also the creator of BLITZ and SHOCKWAVE for Revelation Comics (an imprint of Omen Comics).