Netflix’s ‘The Witcher’ Plans To Be More Horrifying Than Fantastical

A little over a month is left before Netflix releases its highly anticipated series “The Witcher.” Based on the novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, the dark fantasy series may at first seem like a pseudo “Game of Thrones,” though, in fact, it will be far more terrifying than viewers may expect.

For a show based solely on monster hunting and the underlying evils that haunt humanity, this only seems fair. Revealed more in detail by visual effects supervisor Julian Parry under SFX Magazine (via GamesRadar):

“I definitely think it leans more towards horror. We’re definitely taking the fantasy out. I can honestly say we’re not fantastical. I mean, it’s fantastical but in a grounded horror sense.”

Parry specifically discussed the many creatures featured in the franchise, such as the cursed women, who is turned into a completely evil and soulless Striga monster. “For example, with Striga, that’s one gnarly-looking thing. That’s very unpleasant,” he said. There will likely be other various kinds of beasts appearing throughout the series as well, from froglets and necrophages to ghouls and even Arachnomorphs (of which was teased at the end of the debut trailer).

Starring Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, “The Witcher” series will undoubtedly delve deep into the confines of what it means to be a monster hunter and the lengths to which Geralt will go in protecting the few acquaintances he has.

Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich has already alluded to not two, but several more seasons potentially in the works. Though she did also mention that fantasy is a big part of the series, a more focalized aspect of a family -- as seen in relations shared between the characters of Yennefer, Geralt, and Ciri -- will remain at the forefront of the narrative’s premise.

When juxtaposed with the unsettling horror that could be made from Sapkowski’s work, Netflix’s “The Witcher” will seamlessly blend a variety of genres. And, despite not drawing too much from the video games, Netflix still vies for the praise of their plenitude of players, as witnessed in the most recent trailer’s bathtub scene.

Having roots dipping into horror, family strife, and dark fantasy, “The Witcher” gears up for its wildest hunt yet amongst the annals of Netflix originals.

"The Witcher" premieres in full on Dec. 20.