The Last Witch Hunter is exactly what viewers have come to expect from superstar Vin Diesel and Sahara director Breck Eisner: a passable action flick bearing low expectations and all the buzz of a half-pitcher of red wine sangria.
The story follows Kaulder (Vin Diesel), a witch hunter cursed with immortality as he continues to live his life in the 21 century. The story focuses primarily on the eternal warrior as he sets out to solve the murder of his friend and confidant, played by Sir Michael Caine. Joining Kaulder on his journey is his young handler (Elijah Wood) and a feisty dream walker (Rose Leslie).
Let’s start with the positives in this movie: the action sequences are by far some of the most glorious highlights of the fantastical caper. Kaulder is a confident warrior who brings a level of gravitas and badassdom to every magic incantation and sword stroke.
It is utterly baffling and frustrating that Kaulder justifies having an overstocked armory when he only uses three of his weapons throughout the entire movie. After all, what is the point of having a collection of formidable weaponry, when he only ends up bringing a pistol and sword to the final battle in the film? It just seems like a waste of good equipment.
Another thing the film gets right is the cinematography. Every shot in the film is artistically crafted and looks like a stunning portrait. The set designs are good enough to stand on their own and provide a serviceable amount of world building.
Vin Diesel, who stars as the lead in this supernatural action film gives a performance on par with his previous films. Although one could make the argument that his performance is yet another carbon copy of itself, it’s hard to really criticize Diesel’s acting as he suits the character he plays. The only problem is that Kaulder himself isn’t all that interesting to root for.
Kaulder is an extremely boring protagonist for one main reason: he cannot die. We never feel worried or concerned for his well-being; the character even often mirrors the audience’s boredom. The character is most interesting in the film’s introduction as a grieving father and widower out for revenge against an evil witch. However, we hardly see this side of the character in this film, instead only a wise cracking and distant hero who seems nauseated by his redundant role as a protector of humanity.
As for the supporting cast in the film, they unfortunately bring very little to the witch-hunt at hand, and at times seem like throwaway characters that could have been removed entirely. The lack of their presence would not have made any significant difference in the long run of this story.
In the end, The Last Witch Hunter is an entertaining silver screen feature which unfortunately peaks in the first 10 minutes. While not a superb film, it will provide some wholesome entertainment, but nothing overly memorable. The Last Witch Hunter would have been better suited as Fox TV series cancelled after one season.
