Have you ever experienced a movie that seemed to be perfect in every way yet still felt off? That’s exactly how many viewers felt after watching The Last Witch Hunter. This action and fantasy film starring Vin Diesel was released in 2015. It combined city life with ancient magic, giving the movie the impression of being a massive hit. Although it had all the right pieces, it was not particularly well received in the United Kingdom.
Let’s break down what this movie is about, who stars in it, and what people in the UK thought about it.
What Is the Story of The Last Witch Hunter?
Diesel plays the protagonist Kaulder, a witch hunter and a man who presumably has been hunting witches for all of his life. The reason he is alive? A powerful witch cursed him with a life of endless existence. He witnesses Earth go through loads of changes, undergoes battles all by himself, and much more.
Witch Hunters takes the Halloween spirit to a more sinister level by presenting witches that are a lot scarier than what kids dress up as. They give off malevolent energy, which puts people in danger. Most people cannot relate to Kaulder, though, seeing as he works so tirelessly to ensure he keeps their existence a secret as he goes about hunting them. He is one of the very few who know the reality of their existence.
The extreme problem almost arises when an ancient and evil witch queen attempts to resurrect. Should she return, it is certain that a horrible plague would be unleashed. Of course, a lot can go wrong in the process, and that’s where Kaulder steps in.
He ends up teaming up with people he couldn’t fathom working with. Including the very pretty witch Chloe, who’s played by Rose Leslie, and Dolan 37th, aka the priest of the story, played masterfully by Elijah Wood.
Famous Faces in the Film
A big kicker for the UK folk was the generous writers of this movie, who brought a range of actors. The international association of the movie industry paid off as they managed to cast faces familiar to all of the circles.
- Vin Diesel as Kaulder: He is best known for the Fast & Furious series. In this film, he plays a more serious and quiet character.
- Elijah Wood as Dolan 37th: Many people know him from The Lord of the Rings. He plays a priest who works closely with Kaulder.
- Michael Caine as Dolan 36th: A British acting legend, Michael Caine, adds some class and wisdom to the movie.
- Rose Leslie as Chloe: A Scottish actress known for Game of Thrones, she plays a helpful witch who joins Kaulder in his mission.
- Julie Engelbrecht as the Witch Queen: She is the villain and plays her role with intensity.
How Did People in the UK React to the Film?
As far as the UK is concerned, the movie received both bad and well-received attention when it first came out. Some people critiqued the action and fantasy elements, while the rest thought they repeated too much of the same thing. While the movie was first released in cinemas later on, it also came out on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Netflix.
There are also many critics, such as IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, where the movies’ scores were disappointing. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has been marked with a disappointing score of 18 percent, which indicates that most critics did not like it.
And on IMDb, with a rating of 5 out of 10, many viewers in the UK criticised the movie, saying the story was poorly written and the dialogue overused. However, the positive side the movie was praised for was the overall look of the movie along with the special effects.
Was It a Success in the United Kingdom?
The film didn’t do very well at the UK box office. It wasn’t a complete failure, but it didn’t draw large crowds either. Some people watched it because of the big names in the cast. Others were interested in the mix of magic and action. But after watching it, many felt it didn’t bring anything new.
Strong Points of the Film
Despite its problems, The Last Witch Hunter has some things that people liked:
- Great visuals: The movie has some really cool scenes, especially the parts with magic and witchcraft.
- Big-name actors: People liked seeing familiar faces like Vin Diesel and Michael Caine.
- Interesting idea: The thought of a man living forever and fighting witches is fun and different.
Things That Didn’t Work Well
There were also parts that many viewers didn’t enjoy:
- Weak story: The plot felt rushed and not very original.
- Too much talking: Some parts of the movie had long scenes with talking that didn’t go anywhere.
- Flat moments: Some scenes felt slow, even though it was supposed to be an action movie.
Why Did It Struggle in the UK?
People in the UK often enjoy fantasy films, especially those with strong stories and good acting. Think about how popular Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings are. The Last Witch Hunter had a similar theme but didn’t reach the same level.
The reasons for this may include:
- The story was not deep enough.
- It relied too much on big effects and not enough on character development.
- The mix of modern-day settings with old magic didn’t feel smooth.
Will There Be a Sequel?
There have been talks about a second film, and Vin Diesel has said he would like to do another one. However, no official plans have been made. Since the first film didn’t do so well in cinemas, including in the UK, it’s not clear if a sequel will happen anytime soon.
Final Thoughts
The Last Witch Hunter is one of those movies that seems likeable on the surface. It portrays witches, a world-saving hero, a curse, and a world-saving menace. Yet in the end, it did poorly in the UK. If you are a fan of action movies like this, this film might be worth your time. Just don’t go in expecting the film to set any records for fantasy films.
Does it hold the title for the worst film in history? No. Is it something one needs to add to their watch list? Probably not. However, it does have just enough for Vin Diesel fans who enjoy darker fantasy stories to keep them watching.
