Gorgeously detailed set design, a fascinating mythology of witches & the “Axe and Hammer” society tasked with keeping them from harming humans, and action sequences that are messy but cool as [Radio Edit] breathe life into The Last Witch Hunter.  Diesel does a great job doing the same basic character he’s done in F&F and Riddick, and his ennui-cum-world-weary demeanor works perfectly here.  Pity a 180 degree, out-of-nowhere switcheroo in one character’s arc whole being throws a wrench into the works at the climax.

Is the plot a huge mess that throws a cool new mythos at you in the hope that you’ll forgive the fact that this film is nothing more than “man kicks butt amongst all the CGI”?  Abso-witchin’-lutely.  Then again if you’re coming to see a movie about a witch hunter that does nothing but kick butt and you expect coherence?  Baby, I’ve got a bridge to sell you.

The Last Witch Hunter feels like the start of a series, and if it does even so-so box office I’m betting that’s exactly what’ll happen.  Which is fine, because the trio of Disel’s Witch Hunter Kaulder, witch-with-a-heart-o-gold Chloe (Rose Leslie, Game of Thrones) and Kaulder’s Catholic Church babysitter-cum-biographer Dolan is a cool gang to watch.  Though I’m hoping Leslie will get to say “YOU KNOW NOTHING KAULDER” at some point in the inevitable sequel.  BTW, folks hoping for more of Leslie’s awesome Ygritte-styled throwdowns will be disappointed here; Leslie’s witch Chloe is a bartender, not a fighter.  Y’know, unless you really push her.  tl;dr: don’t expect bows and arrows here.

A blast of a horror/action film that’s perfect for Halloween, even if I did get incredibly peeved at the strange lack of character consistency at one point.  Here’s hoping that if they pull another “Gotcha!” moment with a sequel, that they actually leave some mystery to a character that will allow such a shift to be believable.  But this time, go for Diesel whoopin’ seriously evil witch tuchas.

Grade: B-