The movie opens with scenes set in 13th-century Europe during the time of the Black Plague. The plague’s spread is blamed on witchcraft, and Vin Diesel portrays Kaulder, a witch hunter who confronts the Witch Queen. Kaulder and his companions manage to stop the plague but suffer losses, including his wife, child, and many fellow hunters. As she dies, the Witch Queen places a curse upon Kaulder. The story then jumps to present-day New York City, where Kaulder is still hunting witches—yes, it’s the same character. He works with an old organization within the church called Axe and Cross, which seeks to imprison witches while also guarding its own secrets. Michael Caine has a brief but memorable role as Dolan the 36th, Kaulder's contact within Axe and Cross; his successor, Dolan the 37th, is preparing to take over that position. As time passes, witch activity increases, suggesting something significant is about to happen. Kaulder experiences setbacks, and his circle of allies diminishes. The film begins with a sense of impending doom, and it returns to that feeling near the conclusion. Kaulder must now face what he avoided centuries earlier. The central question becomes whether Kaulder will find new support or have to deal with things on his own. It appears to be an attempt to launch another Vin Diesel movie series. The cinematography earns a rating of 8/10; the visuals were generally engaging. The sound, also rated 8/10, featured clear dialogue and appropriate music. Acting is given a 5/10; Michael Caine’s brief appearance was well-received, and Vin Diesel is believable as an action hero even with swords and magic replacing cars and guns. Julie Engelbrecht delivers noteworthy performances as the Witch Queen at both the beginning and end of the film, while Olafur Darri Olafsson provides a memorable portrayal of Belial, a formidable adversary for Kaulder. Elijah Wood’s performance was disappointing, and Rose Leslie's role as Kaulder’s occasional witch ally felt underdeveloped despite her experience in *Game of Thrones*. The screenplay receives a 5/10; the violence and threat propel the plot forward, keeping the 106-minute runtime from feeling too long. While glad to have seen it, I don't think I would watch it again due to its flawed narrative structure. The story constantly introduced new elements—rules, artifacts—at a rapid pace. The ending left me wanting more for the protagonist, but I couldn’t muster that satisfaction. Questions arose about his future challenges and whether Chloe would be a dependable ally; however, at this point, I simply didn't care, which felt like a significant shortcoming of the film. Overall, it receives a 6/10 rating. While I enjoyed it more than most viewers, I wouldn’t strongly recommend seeing it.

Source on TMDB