The Last Witch Hunter is a series of movies that revolve around the character Kaulder, played by Vin Diesel. The first movie was released in 2015, and a sequel is reportedly in the works. In the series, Kaulder is an immortal witch hunter, tasked with keeping the world safe from dark magic and witches. He is the last of his kind and has been alive for centuries, fighting against the forces of evil. The first movie introduces us to Kaulder's world, where witches live among humans, hiding in plain sight. Kaulder has a long history of battling witches and has seen many of his friends and loved ones fall victim to their dark powers.
In The Last Witch Hunter, the warrior Kaulder (Vin Diesel) seeks out witches with his allies, the Axe and Cross. The witch hunter is haunted by the thoughts of his dead wife Helena (Lotte Verbeek) and daughter Elizabeth (Sloane Combs).
Today, Kaulder is the last living hunter who has spent his immortal life tracking down rogue witches, all the while yearning for his long-lost family. While most other films sprint through expository dialogue, and bluster their way through action scenes, The Last Witch Hunter is measured enough to make you want to suspend your disbelief.
Kaulder has a long history of battling witches and has seen many of his friends and loved ones fall victim to their dark powers. The story takes a twist when the Witch Queen, whom Kaulder had defeated centuries ago, is resurrected and seeks revenge. Throughout the movie, Kaulder teams up with a young witch named Chloe to stop the Witch Queen and prevent her from bringing about the end of the world.
The Last Witch Hunter
Many films try and fail to pull off the kind of densely over-plotted action-fantasy that director Breck Eisner ("The Crazies," "Sahara") nails in "The Last Witch Hunter." The secrets to Eisner's success are confidence and patience, both of which compensate for the film's script whenever it becomes embarrassingly thin (especially during its rushed finale). Still, if nothing else, "The Last Witch Hunter" is so much more adept than other recent convoluted post-"The Matrix" adventure films about a superhuman men-of-action (Vin Diesel, in this case) who see the world for what it really is, and are humanity's last hope of maintaining a peaceful status quo. While most other films sprint through expository dialogue, and bluster their way through action scenes, "The Last Witch Hunter" is measured enough to make you want to suspend your disbelief.
AdvertisementAn especially charming Diesel plays Kaulder, a witch-slayer who was cursed to live forever by the Witch Queen (Julie Engelbrecht) back in ye olde viking days. An integral member of the mortal-led witch-hunting organization Axe and Cross, Kaulder has grown full of himself after centuries of walking the Earth unchallenged. But when Ellic (Michael Caine), Kaulder's sidekick and the chronicler of his stories, dies on the day of his retirement, Kaulder investigates, and discovers a plot to revive the centuries-dead Witch Queen.
Here's where "The Last Witch Hunter" starts to get so dorky that you may want to give yourself a wedgie for enjoying it. In order to stop the Witch Queen, Kaulder must "remember [his] death," a clue left for him by Ellic in smudged fingerprints all over one of Ellic's most prized books. The Rolodex of enemies and fair weather contacts that Kaulder meets up with on his rocky road to remembering is embarrassingly preposterous. Their ranks include Max Schlesinger (Isaach De Bankolé), a blind pastry chef-cum-magician who makes cupcakes out of psychedelic moths, butterflies, and maggots, and Belilal (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson), a squat, curse-slinging warlock whose bushy beard and barrel chest makes him look like one of ZZ Top's touring bassists.
What makes this scenario work are the periodic flashes of intelligence that prove that the film's trio of screenwriters thought about what motivates Kaulder. Diesel's usual cockiness suits his character. As he points out to Dolan the 37th (Elijah Wood), Ellic's successor at Axe and Cross, there's nothing he hasn't seen. Diesel is well-used in that sense, proving he's more than a blunt instrument in scenes where he huskily broods and sweet-talks his way around the film's most unwieldy exposition. Few action stars can convincingly mansplain their way through a scene where mystic rune stones that control the elements are used to stop and start a thunderstorm. Diesel is on the short list.
AdvertisementThere are even fewer directors who are sensitive enough to sell scenes as conceptually all-over-the-map as the ones showcased here. But thanks to Eisner, there are blessedly few scenes in "The Last Witch Hunter" that feel rushed (can we please get this guy to direct the upcoming "Doctor Strange" movie's sequel?). Romantic banter feels genuinely playful in scenes like when Kaulder and Chloe (Rose Leslie), a young witch, flirt at Chloe's hookah bar. There aren't nearly enough scenes where Eisner can flex his muscles and prove that he's a stronger storyteller than the script with which he's working; the best is probably when Chloe comes home and silently tries to ward off a threatening spirit with an array of light bulbs. This scene teaches you how to watch it. No character has to explain that the bulbs' light is Chloe's only defense against whatever is threatening to invade her home. You just pick up that knowledge by watching Eisner work.
Eisner's direction is similarly thoughtful during big special-effects-driven set pieces. He's a sturdy choreographer, and none of the big action scenes in "The Last Witch Hunter" are as good as those from his surprisingly atmospheric, recent remake of George Romero's "The Crazies." But flashbacks to Diesel's "Dungeons and Dragons"-worthy encounters with the Witch Queen and modern-day skirmishes with Belial do look good, and that's not just because of Eisner's keen eye for composition. "The Last Witch Hunter" is just generally poised in ways that most fantasies should be, but aren't. There's breathing room in scenes where characters have to appear to be living with decisions they made a couple of scenes earlier. You know you're seeing an atypically dopey but consummately well-assembled fantasy when poor Michael Caine has to explain to viewers the Witch Queen's plan to spread a human-decimating plague using the various witches that Kaulder locked up over the years in the Axe and Cross's "witch prison." "The Last Witch Hunter" may be corny at heart, but it's cool enough to convince you otherwise while its creators sell you a story you've seen some iteration of many, many times before.
And one of them is just as dangerous.
Along the way, they encounter various other witches, both good and evil, who have their own agendas and alliances. The Last Witch Hunter series combines elements of fantasy, action, and supernatural genres. The movies are known for their atmospheric visuals, intense action sequences, and an intriguing mythology that delves into witchcraft and the supernatural. Vin Diesel's portrayal of Kaulder is charismatic and engaging, and he brings a physical presence to the role. While the first movie received mixed reviews, it gained a cult following and performed relatively well at the box office. Fans of the series have been eagerly anticipating a sequel, which would continue Kaulder's story and explore more of the world of witches and magic. Overall, The Last Witch Hunter series offers an entertaining and action-packed take on the supernatural genre. With its unique blend of fantasy and folklore, it has carved out its own niche in the realm of modern witch stories. Whether or not a sequel materializes, the first movie remains an enjoyable watch for fans of the genre..
Reviews for "The Last Witch Hunter: A Thrilling Battle of Good and Evil"
1. Sarah - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "The Last Witch Hunter" series. The concept of witches and witch hunters seemed intriguing, but the execution fell flat for me. The characters lacked depth and I found it difficult to connect with any of them. The storyline felt predictable and clichéd, with no real surprises or twists. The action sequences were poorly choreographed and lacked intensity. Overall, I was bored and unimpressed with this series.
2. Michael - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "The Last Witch Hunter" series, but unfortunately, it just didn't deliver. The plot felt disjointed and rushed, with little character development. The dialogue was cheesy and cliche, making it hard to take the story seriously. The special effects were mediocre at best, and the action scenes lacked excitement. I found myself constantly checking my phone, waiting for something interesting to happen. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and uninterested in continuing with this series.
3. Emily - 1/5 - "The Last Witch Hunter" series was a complete letdown. The storyline was convoluted and confusing, leaving me with more questions than answers. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any real depth or personality. The pacing was slow and the action scenes were poorly executed. I found myself constantly losing interest and struggling to stay engaged. Overall, I would not recommend this series to anyone looking for a captivating and well-written supernatural tale.
4. Jason - 2/5 - I had high expectations for "The Last Witch Hunter" series, but it was a major disappointment. The plot felt clichéd and predictable, and the characters were forgettable. The special effects were underwhelming, and the action scenes lacked any real excitement or thrill. The dialogue was cringe-worthy and forced, making it hard to take the story seriously. Overall, I was left feeling dissatisfied and uninterested in continuing with this series.
5. Rebecca - 1/5 - "The Last Witch Hunter" series was a complete waste of time. The story was poorly developed and lacked any semblance of originality. The characters were flat and unrelatable, making it hard to care about their fates. The action scenes were poorly choreographed and lacked any sense of tension or excitement. I found myself constantly rolling my eyes at the cheesy dialogue and predictable plot twists. Overall, I was thoroughly unimpressed and would not recommend this series to anyone.