"The Last Witch Hunter" is a supernatural action-thriller film released in 2015. Directed by Breck Eisner, the movie stars Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood, and Michael Caine. The plot revolves around the last remaining witch hunter, Kaulder, who is tasked with preventing the Queen Witch from unleashing a deadly plague upon humanity. The story begins in the Middle Ages when Kaulder, portrayed by Vin Diesel, hunts down and kills the powerful Witch Queen. Before dying, she curses him with immortality, ensuring that he will forever be tormented by her death. Fast forward to present day, Kaulder now works as a member of a secret society called the "Ax and Cross.
The found footage cinematography used in The Last Witch is quite good. The film is shot primarily with a single handheld video camera that is passed between characters while walking. When the characters are in a fixed location for any period of time, such as a car or tent, director Carlos Almón Muñoz often places the camera on the ground. This approach adds more visually stable scenes to The Last Witch, but more importantly, enables all three main characters to be in-frame at the same time.
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. As luck would have it, Sandra s grandfather is a direct descendant of the member of the witch commission who was responsible for positively identifying the six women as witches.
Fast forward to present day, Kaulder now works as a member of a secret society called the "Ax and Cross." Their purpose is to maintain the peace between humans and witches, ensuring that the latter do not misuse their supernatural powers. When his mentor, Dolan 36th (Michael Caine), is mysteriously killed, Kaulder teams up with a gifted witch named Chloe (Rose Leslie) and a rogue priest called Dolan 37th (Elijah Wood) to investigate.
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.
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They uncover a sinister plot that involves the Queen Witch resurrecting and seeking revenge against Kaulder for killing her centuries ago. Together, they must find a way to stop her before she releases a deadly plague that could wipe out humanity. As they delve deeper into the world of witches and their dark magic, Kaulder struggles with his past and his immortality. He meets several allies and enemies along the way, each with their own agendas. The film is filled with intense action sequences, visually stunning special effects, and a compelling storyline that keeps the audience engaged. "The Last Witch Hunter" received mixed reviews from critics but performed well at the box office. It was praised for its visual effects, action sequences, and the performances of the cast, particularly Vin Diesel. However, some critics felt that the plot was predictable and lacked originality. Overall, "The Last Witch Hunter" is an entertaining supernatural film that combines elements of fantasy, action, and thriller. It provides an enjoyable viewing experience for fans of the genre and showcases Vin Diesel's charisma and physicality in the lead role..
Reviews for "The Last Witch (2015): A Twist on the Classic Witch Tale"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "The Last Witch 2015". The storyline was confusing and all over the place. It felt like the filmmakers didn't know what kind of movie they wanted to make. The acting was also subpar, with wooden performances that left much to be desired. Overall, I found the film to be a complete letdown and would not recommend it to others.
2. Emily - 1/5 - "The Last Witch 2015" was an absolute disaster. The pacing was excruciatingly slow, and I found myself constantly checking my watch to see how much longer I had to endure this film. The special effects were laughable and did not add anything to the story. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any depth or development. Save yourself the trouble and skip this film.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "The Last Witch 2015", but unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. The writing was weak, with clichéd dialogue and predictable plot twists. The film also suffered from poor editing, as it felt disjointed and choppy at times. The only saving grace was the cinematography, which was well-executed. However, the beautiful visuals were not enough to salvage this lackluster movie.
4. Michael - 1/5 - "The Last Witch 2015" was a complete waste of time. The story was convoluted and confusing, making it difficult to understand what was happening. The acting was mediocre at best, with uninspired performances from the entire cast. The CGI effects were poorly executed and took away from the overall viewing experience. I would advise anyone considering watching this film to steer clear and find something else to watch.