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Fans ofThe Witcher, Netflix’s dark adaptation of the series of fantasy novels of the same name, still have a few months to go before the hit series returns, but the streaming service is hoping to make the wait more tolerable with the release ofThe Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, an animated spinoff film set in the show’s universe.
Produced byThe Witchershowrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich,Nightmare of the Wolfoffers up a prequel tale set years before the events ofThe Witcherseries. The film follows Vesemir, a monster-hunting Witcher who will become series protagonist Geralt’s mentor in later years, as he investigates a deadly creature terrorizing a city — only to make a discovery that changes the course of both his life and those of all Witchers.
The Originalsseries writer Beau DeMayo, who previously penned one of the best episodes ofThe Witcherto date, season 1’sBetrayer Moon, provided the script forNightmare of the Wolf, which manages to offer both a satisfying stand-alone adventure and one that reveals quite a bit more about the world the series inhabits.
Looking good
It’s no surprise thatThe Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolfdelivers a beautiful visual experience.
The resume of Studio Mir, the South Korean animation studio that worked onNightmare of the Wolf, features some of the best animated projects to arrive on the small screen in recent years, from the critically acclaimedThe Legend of KorraandVoltron: Legendary Defenderto the criminally underappreciatedKipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts. WithNightmare of the Wolf, the studio pivots from all-ages adventures to a more adult-themed series while retaining its knack for blending crisp lines and vivid colors with a superb grasp of both action and emotion in the characters they bring to the screen.
Nightmare of the Wolfis as rewarding to watch in its quieter, more dialogue-driven moments as it is in its most frantic, fast-paced sequences, and Studio Mir rewards Netflix’s continued collaboration with another visually stunning project that serves both the story and the diversity of the streamer’s library well.
Sounding good, too
The cast of actors lending their voices toThe Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolfoffers a nice variety of familiar faces (if not names) and veteran voice actors, withThe Divergent Seriesfranchise actor Theo James portraying the adult Vesemir. James delivers Vesemir’s dialogue with the right mix of roguish charm and well-earned confidence, and the blending of his line delivery and the character’s on-screen persona works well for the character.
Much of the same can be said ofSherlockactress Lara Pulver andOutlanderactor Graham McTavish, who voice the sorceress Tetra and the veteran Witcher Deglan, respectively. Both characters keep you guessing when it comes to their true loyalties, and the actors voicing them do a nice job of maintaining that uncertainty in their delivery of the characters’ lines.
Big world, small story
Although the visuals and voice acting inNightmare of the Wolfdeserve plenty of praise, it’s the story that brings it all together — and also offers the most compelling reason to watch the film.
Telling a satisfying, self-contained story while also adding depth to a world as rich as that ofThe Witcheris no easy task, and theNightmare of the Wolfcreative team balances those needs well. Newcomers shouldn’t have any trouble jumping right into the world ofThe WitcherviaNightmare of the Wolf, while those familiar with the series — or the books they’re based on, by novelist Andrzej Sapkowski — will likely enjoy the extra layers the film adds to the existing franchise saga.
When season 2 ofThe Witcherfinally premieres in December 2021, it will be nearly two years since the series made its debut on Netflix. Fortunately, even without actor Henry Cavill’s gruff monster hunter Geralt,Nightmare of the Wolfoffers plenty of rewarding elements and a great reminder of whyThe Witcheris such a fascinating world to explore, no matter what form that exploration takes.
Animated featureThe Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolfis available now on Netflix.
