Review // The Last Witch Hunter

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The Last Witch Hunter might as well be called Vin Diesel: Witch Hunter. The action star is in top form as the immortal witch hunter, Kaulder. While the story is predictable, the film is visually interesting and pretty fun.

Despite not being a great actor, Vin Diesel is a stellar action star. He’s the perfect mix of hunk, charm and charisma that helps sell an action adventure. With The Last Witch Hunter, Diesel gets to take on a project that explores some of his own nerdy fantasies, and it’s pretty clear he’s having a blast. And while his enjoyment is infectious, it also (perhaps unintentionally) helps keep the tone light, despite the ominous forces threatening to end the world.

Kaulder, is a warrior for the Axe and Cross, a secret society that hunts witches in order to keep the world safe. A valuable fighter who does not fear death (he’d actually welcome it) Kaulder’s story begins 800 years ago in a battle against the Witch Queen (Julie Engelbrecht). When he slays her, she curses him with immortality, preventing him from ever being reunited with his dead wife and daughter. Flash forward to modern day. Kaulder is considered the Axe and Cross’s greatest weapon and their key to maintaining a truce between the Council of Witches and the Axe and Cross. Kaulder’s day job has him hunting evil witches and bringing them to the Witches’ Council for judgement and punishment. He’s aided in his policing efforts by a cleric of the Axe and Cross who takes on the title of Dolan. Dolan are not only aids to Kaulder, they also keep a documented history of his life. In fact, they are named for a cleric who originally went into battle with Kaulder against the Witch Queen. Michael Caine plays Dolan 36 while Elijah Wood plays his successor Dolan 37.

The story is more reminiscent of a television pilot than a fantasy film. The world of witches and hunters is set up rather briefly, just enough mumbo jumbo that you can follow the plot without delving into too much detail. We reunite with Kaulder in Manhattan as he closes a case for the Axe and Cross. He then debriefs with his confidant and friend Dolan 36 who, with the completion of their last case, is retiring. The cases, the partnership, it all feels like a supernatural police procedural. The first episode starts things off with a personal crisis where viewers discover more about the lead character. It seems like for the past 800 years Kaulder’s been going on fairly mundane cases which are either missions to rescue magical relics or capture witches breaking the “don’t hurt humans” clause in the truce.

It’s impressive to see an original fantasy adventure come to the big screen and to see this new world imagined and realized in such a large scale. The production design is epic, especially the special effects and the combination of make-up and CGI that create the Witch Queen. However the actual locations, a vacant church, a dungey NYC speak easy that caters only to witches, and a dilapidated funeral home are a bit hum drum. And that’s where the originality begins to wane.

Despite being touted as an original concept, not based on any book or comic or other media series, the story follows a pretty formulaic arch of the lone warrior action-adventure. Our immortal hero, forever alone in his quest for good, is faced with a threat from his arch nemesis that will annihilate the world. Plus, to add some personal stakes, the only person in the world he holds dear is threatened as well. He must team up with an enemy (in this case a witch named Chloe played by Game of Thrones’ Rose Leslie who unfortunately never utters the phrase, “you know nothing Kaulder”) in order to take down the threat and save his love interest/friend/family member/pet. In doing so his perspective is changed and he’s able to see the value of partnership/community. This is pretty much the plot for all the Wolverine movies, Blade 3 and the television series Angel.

So should you see The Last Witch Hunter? Sure, if you like Vin Diesel or have an affinity for supernatural adventure. The film as a whole isn’t that impressive but it is still fun. Lionsgate are seeing franchise potential in this one, they already have a sequel in the works. Yet I can’t help but think The Last Witch Hunter is doomed in the film world and deserves a shot as a television franchise. Television offers a medium where this new fantasy world can be developed in depth and viewers can be thrust into different times and adventures with the immortal hero. Just think about it Vin.

Reviewed by Vithiya Murugadas.