I think it is safe to say that after last year’s break, 2021 is again coming to be the year of The Witcher , in the second half filled with content inspired by the works of Andrzej Sapkowski. For several weeks now, the game Monster Slayer , which uses augmented reality, has been successful on mobile devices , in December the long-awaited continuation of the series with Henry Cavill will finally be released, and the Witcher 3: Wild Hunt edition, improved for the next generation of consoles, is also on the horizon .
Source: Netflix
Meanwhile, Netflix tempts with a prequel introducing the character of Vesemir, well-known mentor Geralt fans, who will appear in the second season. The creators, however, had greater ambitions than creating just an additional filler for the acting production. Nightmare of the Wolf is a project that really surprised me positively.
Forest evil
The story told in the film takes place several hundred years before the events of the series. The calm before wintering in the Kaer Morhen fortress is interrupted by the appearance of a mysterious monster aided by strong magic in the Kaedweni forest. Vesemir is caught up in this situation and forced to solve a mystery.
Source: Netflix
As if that were not enough, tension and distrust in the kingdom towards the witchers of the Wolf School is growing. The plot is presented in two ways for a long time. Present-day events are interwoven with the childhood memories of the monster slayer that clearly shaped him. It all adds up to a story that follows Vesemir’s footsteps from trying to break out of poverty to becoming a witcher leader in Kaer Morhen.
Another Witcher
Importantly, Zmora Wilka is a completely new story, not directly related to the themes of Andrzej Sapkowski’s work, which can be clearly seen. People looking for elements of fantasy pastiche and cultural references in the spirit of the literary prototype will be disappointing, because the construction is easier to digest. But is it really bad? In my opinion no; the creators tried to give the witcher’s story their own style, different from what the fans could get to know in various media so far.
Source: Netflix
A good example is the creation of the main character. The film Vesemir is far from a good-natured, grumpy old man known from books or games by CD Projekt RED studio. We recognize him as full of vigor, at the peak of his abilities, but also as swashbuckling and open-minded. His character is a natural opposite of the reticent Geralt. Overall, we are dealing with a very pleasant fantasy adventure. Although the plot is not too complicated, it is very pleasant to follow, especially thanks to the expressive characters and lightly written dialogues. This is certainly partly due to the soundtrack. Both English and Polish dubbing are at a high level, and the translation seems to be efficient.
A new perspective on the continent
The production of Zmora Wilka was entrusted to the Korean band Studio Mir, known for example from the Legend of Korra and Voltron series . The animators’ experience is visible from the very first minutes, because the film simply pleases the eyes. What’s more, freshness in the universe is also present here.
Source: Netflix
Stylistically, the creators went their own path, which in places differs significantly from what we could see in the series, not to mention games. This can be seen in quite creative monster designs, but also in very effective witcher signs, which appear to be much more powerful than they might have seemed so far. Not to mention the fact that the line itself and the lighting game are really nice and make a more detailed impression than in the studio’s serial projects, which should not be surprising either. It should also be mentioned that, as befits witcher tales, numerous bloody battles have been presented very suggestively. Combined with the light tone of the story, we can associate (on the plus side) with Castlevaniafrom Netflix are right. Musically, it is very similar to what we had a chance to hear in the first season of the TV series The Witcher , and good, because it was one of the strongest points of that production.
It is worth hitting the trail
The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf is probably the best encounter with popular monster hunters since the sensational Hearts of Stone . The Studio Mir team managed to create a light but engaging story about the journey of the young Vesemir. Probably not all fans of The Witcher will like the very different style and tone of the film, but in my opinion it is an additional advantage of the production. What’s more, thanks to the construction of the narrative, the work stands on its own legs and should also be accessible to people who have never had contact with the brand in one edition or another.
Source: Netflix
Despite the author’s hand, we managed to keep some characteristic motifs, so this time also we can count on confronting various dimensions of difference in troubled times. After two screenings, I hope that this is not the last animation in the world of The Witcher , because it is definitely worth developing the universe in this way, giving other creative possibilities of presentation.
The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf from August 23 on Netflix.
