Is there a place for Western anime? This gory, grimdark prequel to Netflix's live-action series The Witcher answers with a resounding yes.

Despite its efforts to deepen its fictional world, it's mostly the action that stands out.

While the film is unlikely to hold much appeal for Netflix subscribers who never cared about The Witcher to begin with, it's a worthy side quest for anyone with a passing interest in seeing more of the Continent.

Without the springboard of the live-action series, a viewer might be a bit lost, but, as an expository bonus piece, Nightmare of the Wolf does an elegant job of shading in the details of a world fans of the series are eager to return to.