Parents' Guide to

The Last Witch Hunter

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Poorly made, noisy, apocalyptic fantasy action flick.

Movie PG-13 2015 106 minutes
The Last Witch Hunter Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Camisita
Camisita Adult
March 4, 2016
age 18+

If you love Vin, then this is for you!

Could have been better made, it was ok. My husband and I love fantasy based movies and we like Vin Diesel. We liked the plot but could have been stronger. Would have let my 19 see it, except that I prefer to not have her see movies that show that pre-marital sex is ok.

This title has:

Too much violence
Stevie111
Stevie111 Adult
February 4, 2016
age 14+

The Last Witch Hunter is Predictable but Entertaining

The Last Witch Hunter is a violent fantasy action film that is predictable and sometimes over the top, but actually pretty good. If you want a serious movie with academy award possibilities, this is not for you. If you just want an entertaining fantasy action movie, this is a decent choice. This film is better suited for older teens due to brutal violence and some scenes that could easily frighten younger kids. So if you're a Vin Diesel fan, definitely try this film. It's not spectacular, but it's worth a watch.

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

A warrior, Kaulder (Vin Diesel), destroys an evil witch queen. But just before she perishes, she curses him, giving him immortality. Eight hundred years later, in the present day, Kaulder is a professional witch hunter, working with a secret society of helpers called Dolans; the latest one (Michael Caine) is near retirement, and a replacement (Elijah Wood) is being trained. Kaulder discovers an evil plot to break the truce between humans and witches by resurrecting the witch queen, who will then unleash a plague upon the world. Only a helpful witch, Chloe (Rose Leslie), with "dream walking" powers, can help Kaulder discover the witch queen's secret -- and the secret of his own existence.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (5):

Noisy and choppy, with shoddy, sludgy-looking digital effects and half-baked characters wandering through a ridiculous plot, this movie would appear to be under a curse of its own. Director Breck Eisner is known for making one of the biggest money-losers in Hollywood history, Sahara (2005), and his bad luck seems to continue with THE LAST WITCH HUNTER.

The one-dimensional villains -- led by a monstrous witch covered in rubbery goop -- cackle and snarl while fighting an equally one-dimensional "good guy." Diesel more or less reprises his character from the Fast/Furious movies, so cool and self-sufficient that he's a chore to be around, and certainly his co-stars show the strain, feeling useless in his presence. And while the dialogue can be painfully awkward, it's not as awkward as the final plot twist and the pathetic attempt to set up a sequel and/or franchise.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about The Last Witch Hunter's violence. How did it affect you? Was it thrilling or gory? What's the impact of media violence on kids?

  • Is the movie scary? How does this view of witches compare to those of other movies or stories?

  • How is sex portrayed in the movie? What's implied? Is it shown in a positive or negative light?

  • How are in-charge female characters treated in the movie? Do you think that reinforces or undermines typical gender roles?

  • Since the main character is immortal and seems to have learned everything about everything, what makes him interesting (or not interesting)?

Movie Details

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