Movie Review - The Last Witch Hunter

The Last Witch Hunter

2015

The Cast

Riddick in the light... 'ish...

So way back when witches roamed the land so did Witch Hunters.  Kaulder (Diesel) and his gang are hinting the Witch Queen who is intent on the destruction of the human race.  The battle between Queen and mortals is fast and furious with everyone but Kaulder and the Queen being slain.  In a last ditched attempt, Kaulder attacks and runs her through with his sword of fire.  However, as witches are accustomed, she doesn't die easily... she curses Kaulder to immortality.  However, judging by the notches on his bedpost this curse has backfired on the witch because it looks like he's enjoying life... not only does he have the women, but he has his own toys, fast cars, and a penthouse... when can I get cursed that bad(?)

So this is pretty much a Vin Diesel vehicle and to be honest, it's kinda like Riddick without the contact lenses.  There's at least an air of a mystery in the story, something is happening in the magic community and it's not good.  What's happening?  Who's behind it?  What's the twist?  All good questions, though all, are pretty easy to figure out.  Mainly, because it's all been done before and maybe they didn't want to get too complicated and confusing as the film is aimed at a 12A audience.  Any adult should know where this story is going and all the twist reveals well in advance of their actual reveal.

Vin Diesel once again does a great job at being Vin Diesel... I would love to see him stretch his acting wings to take in a few more characterisations... or is he gonna be like Bruce Willis stuck in a rut being John McClane in every film he does?  Can anybody remember when he was Hudson Hawk...  But I digress, then you have Rose Leslie as Chloe... she's a strange one as sometimes she's great, then at others, a lump of wood.  Similar can also be said for Elijah Wood as Dolan 37th (shouldn't that be The 37th Dolan or Dolan 37?).  Most of the time he's on screen he gives out an appearance of uncaring.  It's like he didn't want to be there.  Other than Diesel, the only other actors who do well with their characters are Olafsson as Belial, brilliant as the hulk of a warlock, who is certain of his power and his mission.  Michael Caine as Dolan 36th, a cheeky priest who has befriended Kaulder over his tenure.  

However, it's the direction, the special effects, and action scenes that will keep the audience entertained the most.  Eisner is a good director and uses both camera shots, angles, pans, and lighting to his best advantage.  It's also nice that he decided to keep the dark subterranean scenes well lit so you can see the action.  It's also refreshing that in the action scenes he doesn't always opt for shaky cam.  But, uses quick pans and cuts to add speed, tension, and excitement... phew, no seasickness pills needed.

If the story had been stronger and some of the characters slightly upgraded it would have made this a much better venture.  As it is, it's a leave your brain by the door, magical slobber knocker.  Not too bad a way to waste an hour and a half... though if you're looking for original, this isn't it... or thought-provoking.

I would recommend this to all viewers who want a not-all-together mindless entertainment.  It's a one watch movie.

I give this a magical curse of 6.25 out of 10.

The Trailer

Free Kindle Dark Fantasy Novella

Sinful Cinderella

Dark Fairy Tale Queen - Book 1

By Anita Valle

And you thought the stepsisters were wicked....

I'm not who they think I am. A docile girl who meekly obeys her stepmother and stepsisters. Some kind of sick angel who cheerfully bears their mistreatment. That's what I WANT them to think. Because then they won't suspect what I'm really up to.

The ball, the prince - it's all part of my plan to come out on top. Stepmother and her demented daughters will pay for every floor I have scoured, every sneer I have borne. They don't know about the white magic, how I use it to enhance myself. They can't see that my heart is black as midnight, rotten as a poisoned apple.

They're about to find out.

Book Details

Length: Approx. 150 pages

Genre: Dark Fantasy

Mood: Dark / Humorous

Content: Moderate violence. A few mild sexual references. No sex scenes or erotica.

Audience: Teens and Adults

Author's Note:

This book has all the elements of the classic Cinderella story: the wicked stepsisters, the fairy godmother, the glass slipper, the charming prince. But it's all told by an evil Cinderella who's determined to be the next queen. If you like fractured fairy tale retellings, this is a fast and entertaining read. Very popular with teens and young adults but also a good fairy tale for adults and anyone who likes dark fantasy. Sinful Cinderella is the first book in The Dark Fairy Tale Queen Series, followed by Sneaky Snow White and coming soon: Rotten Rapunzel! I hope you enjoy these "Grimm" fairy tales retold from a darker point of view.

Other books by Anita Valle

SNEAKY SNOW WHITE: Dark Fairy Tale Queen Series - Book 2

ROTTEN RAPUNZEL: Dark Fairy Tale Queen Series - Book 3 (Coming Soon!)

MAELYN: The Nine Princesses Book 1 (FREE)

CORALINA: The Nine Princesses Book 2

HEIDEL: The Nine Princesses Book 3

BRIETTE: The Nine Princesses Book 4

MONSTER MANOR (A novel for kids)

Click Here To Collect

Movie Review - Gallow Walkers

Gallow Walkers (2012)

Boundless Pictures; Jack Bowyer Productions

6 / 10

*** Slight Spoilers ***

This is a Dark Fantasy Western and not a Horror as stated, as the writer and director decided to leave terror, fear, and tension to one side, though they keep in the gore.  Had they decided to go down the Horror route it may have made the film better.  Here you have a man whose love was brutalised, raped, and murdered.  When he finally catches up with the killers he takes his revenge out on them.  Unfortunately, the dead come back... each time he kills them.

The undead, the Gallow Walkers, are not your usual fodder.  They are not Zombies but rather revenants.  When they are revived their skin is rotting away or, in one case, flayed off the face by the Anti-hero Aman (portrayed by Wesley Snipes).  This means they need to skin people to restore their human features, though they don't last as the flesh keeps rotting.  This could have been played on a little more though there is a good bit about half way through the film.

I love the premise of The Gallow Walkers, as I was thinking of a story along similar lines.  I just think that it could have been filled out a little more.  Though the twist, played nice and subtly, was a good idea and cleared up some of the issues I had with his revenge plan.

The acting was good, especially Wesley Snipes (though he's not at his best), Kevin Howarth, and Hector Hugo.  The only average actor in the cast is Riley Smith, who just seemed two-dimensional, and grated on my nerves a couple of times.

The direction is pretty decent and there are some really nice close-up shots of holstered six-shooters, brim shadowed faces and panoramic desert shots; some of these are close to beautiful.  For the film to fit the one and a half hour running time the director, Andrew Goth, slow burns the movie.  This for some viewers would be enough to dislike the film.  I didn't mind it too much as it added a little more atmosphere,  There were a couple of times where it was done to create tension, though it fails both times and this lets the film down.  When there's going to be a shootout then you need a little tension.

I really liked the way the movie was filmed and wrote to be, in bright sunlight as the location is a North American desert.  This is another reason why a Horror film could've been a better choice, there are not too many Horror movies that take place in the full sunshine.  Directors like to use the fear of the dark and the shadows to hide some supernatural terror, it's much harder to scare someone in daylight.  It would've added to the originality of the film.

If you're a Wesley Snipes fan and there's not too much to do then you could give this a whirl.

I enjoyed it though I did think it could have been better in a few places.