The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf (2021)

The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf (2021)

 7/10

Starring the voices of

Theo James

Lara Pulver

Graham McTavish

Mary McDonnell

 

Directed by Kwang Il Han

 

Nightmare of the Wolf is a South Korean-produced adult animated dark fantasy for Netflix and a spin-off of The Witcher series. It focuses on the life of Geralt’s mentor, Vesemir. Geralt only appears briefly at the end as a small child.

If you enjoyed the Netflix series The Witcher—which is based on a video game that, in turn, is based on a book series by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski—then you’ll likely enjoy this as well. The movie explores what led to the near extinction of the Witchers and the challenges in creating more of them.

The tale is dark, driven by revenge, hate, and sorrow. With its action-packed sequences and gripping narrative, this is one of the coolest additions to the Witcher lore. The final fight between Vesemir and the witch Tetra is particularly magnificent to watch.

The plot begins with a family of nobles lost in the woods. They are attacked by a monster, leaving only one boy alive. The boy escapes and is saved by a Witcher named Vesemir. Back in town, Tetra, a sorceress, uses this tragedy to fuel hatred against the Witchers. Meanwhile, an older woman tries to counter Tetra’s arguments, urging peace and discouraging the kingdom from declaring war on the Witchers.

The story then flashes back to Vesemir’s childhood. We see him and a young girl, Illyana, working as servants in a noble household. The lady of the house suffers from violent fits, and Vesemir and Illyana are sent to fetch a drug to calm her. During their errand, they encounter a Witcher named Deglan.

Deglan forces Vesemir to take him to his master’s house, where he uses his skills to remove the monster causing the lady’s fits. As payment, Deglan gives Vesemir a small share of his earnings. The combination of money and magic captivates Vesemir, and when Deglan offers him the chance to become a Witcher, he accepts. Despite Illyana’s pleas for him to stay, Vesemir leaves alone.

The movie then delves into the harrowing trials young boys endure to become Witchers, showing the deadly and transformative process, they face.

Returning to the present, we see Tetra working tirelessly to push for war against the Witchers. A series of unfortunate events brings Vesemir face-to-face with her. An older woman convinces the king to send Vesemir to eliminate the monsters in the woods, with Tetra accompanying him.

From here, the movie uncovers the deeper motivations and secrets behind the current state of the Witchers, revealing where everyone’s loyalties truly lie and why.

You can catch this thrilling animation on Netflix. As with The Witcher books, the magic lies in the storytelling, deception, and the unhealed wounds that drive people to fight for what they believe was taken from them—or for a return to normalcy.