The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf tells Vesemir's origin (and that of all Witchers, including Geralt) with a bang. The animated film is exciting and definitely worthy of The Witcher name. The movie starts off with a song, a rather atmospheric one. It speaks about a bandit robbing a lord of his silver band, one that protects him from monsters. The young man singing the song is chastised by his father and told to stop scaring his sisters. Of course, something much scarier comes along: an actual monster. This is when viewers meet Vesemir, who slays the monster. He then leaves, leaving the young boy alone to deal with his grief. Viewers then watch a meeting between a king and his advisors. Tetra Gilcrest, a powerful mage, speaks on behalf of the young boy.
She wants the king to investigate the Witchers. She has a feeling they're behind the greater amounts of monsters in the forest. Luckily, the Witchers have an ally as well in Lady Zerbst. She speaks up for the Witchers, saying that Tetra doesn't have any evidence. She also reminds Tetra that mages create Witchers yet expect others to fix the problem. The King agrees with Lady Zerbst and doesn't want to bother the Witchers. Then Filavandrel speaks to Vesemir, translating something the monster he destroyed said before it was gone. "Beware the den of my dead," it said, according to Filavandrel. The language it spoke in was an old Elf language, and Filavandrel wonders how a monster like that would know it. Vesemir believes that something or someone was controlling the monster.
RELATED: Fear Street Part Three: 1666 Review
Filavandrel wants help since some Elf women have gone missing. Vesemir refuses, however, stating that favors don't pay bills. Filavandrel tries to make Vesemir feel bad, saying that he should imagine a world where Witchers cared about more than just adventures and making money. Vesemir is unfazed, however, and this is when The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf really gets going. There is a flashback to a young Vesemir, who is shown to be from a poor family. He works for a lord and a lady, but the lady is mad. He is told to get herbs from the market, where he meets a friend of his. Her name is Ilyana, and she helps him get the herbs they need, while Vesemir buys them some dessert. They are interrupted, however, by a mysterious Witcher named Deglan. He makes Ilyana and Vesemir take him to the noblewoman they serve.
Apparently, she is being attacked by a demon known as a mahr. Deglan knows how to get rid of the demon, though, and asks everyone to leave the room. Vesemir wants to stay, however, and Deglan allows him. He wants Vesemir to catch the mahr. Of course, things don't go as planned. The demon transforms into Ilyana, and Vesemir hesitates. Luckily, Deglan gets the mahr before it can escape. As he's leaving, he runs into Vesemir and tosses the kid a couple of coins. Vesemir wants to come with Deglan, but Deglan mentions Ilyana, and Vesemir hesitates. According to Deglan, "Witchers do not hesitate."
Vesemir eventually leaves to find Deglan as he wants to become a Witcher. Things then go back to the older Vesemir, who finds out about Tetra Gilcrest and what she thinks of Witchers. Apparently, she believes that Witchers are only good for killing. That they have no redeeming qualities. She is also supposedly a descendant of the first human mage. Vesemir and Tetra end up having to travel together. Vesemir also meets the Witcher's ally, Lady Zerbst. The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf is action-packed from the moment that Vesemir and Tetra set off on their journey. Lady Zerbst also has a secret, yet don't worry, it won't be spoiled. While The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf does have some slow moments, overall, it is gripping and exciting.
The animated nature of The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf does not in any way take away from the story. It is a dark tale, one that fans would expect from The Continent. There are enough plot twists to keep fans guessing, yet the story is also very grounded and real. In short, it is everything a fan would want from The Witcher universe. There are dark secrets hidden, and trouble is brewing. It shows how Witchers were treated differently from the beginning. It also gives greater insight into the Law of Surprise, which is how Geralt claimed Ciri. And, of course, it answers some questions fans might have about the universe of the story while probably raising new ones.
The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf will probably not be for everyone. Some might find the animated aspect too childish or dislike the art style. Yet, for those who don't, The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf will be more than worth the time spent on it. However, it's a quick watch and doesn't really feel too long once it really gets going. Everything from Vesemir and Tetra's journey on is full of excitement and mystery. Fans might think that it is simply a straightforward origin story of Vesemir, and it is, but there are definitely some nice surprises. And some not-so-nice ones. Fans will be on the edge of their seat, wanting to know what happens next. Some fans might have it all figured out. Yet, the majority of viewers will probably be surprised.
Vesemir's story is emotional, a lot more than fans might expect it to be. It is exciting and leaves viewers wanting more. Luckily, once The Witcher Season 2 starts, fans will see more of Vesemir, if a slightly older version. But for now, fans of this character will need to be content with The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf. And it seems that they will be. Luckily, it's a great story, one just as full of magic and mystery as the Netflix series. Fans will probably not be disappointed.