Right off the bat it opens with a confusing sequence where a posse of barbarian-looking warriors begin walking toward a gigantic tree surrounded by a cloud of what looks like insects. For a work whose main feature is the existence of wizards and witches, it distinctly lacks cinematic magic. The only refreshing aspect of the movie is the casting of both Rose Leslie, known for her role as Jon Snow’s love interest in Game Of Thrones, and Michael Caine, but even these two could only work within the bounds they were afforded.
It is a film that does not get much right: one-liners are ill-timed, costumes are unimpressive, and the Witch Queen’s design feels as an odd hybrid alien-meets-human-meets-bug. It feels convoluted, overcharged, and does not feature the elements associated with a believable story, but more on that later.
Directed by Breck Eisner and starring Vin Diesel, it comes across as a film that purposely insists upon itself, developing progressively more elaborate sets that produce the opposite of its intended profundity. It’s that time of the year when October becomes synonymous with a movie docket largely composed of films featuring some kind of supernatural entity, and The Last Witch Hunter is no different.
