Goths and gamers, fans of animation, if you’ve been hungering for original and character-driven vampire tales, fear not — Castlevania: Nocturne is at last here. From showrunners Clive Bradley and Kevin Kolde, Castlevania: Nocturne locates its adventures in a thrilling setting — the atmospheric backdrop of the French Revolution. As the peasant class rises up against the aristocracy, an even darker threat emerges: a cabal of powerful vampires intent on taking over the world and blotting out the sun forever. 

Castlevania: Nocturne delivers elegant animation and surprises as our heroes (played by Edward Bluemel, Pixie Davies, Thuso Mbedu, Sydney James Harcourt, and Nastassja Kinski) battle vicious monsters while also facing down their own inner demons. By the time rumors spread of a “vampire messiah” who must be stopped at all costs, the stakes in the Castlevania universe have never been higher.

Where can I see the trailer for Castlevania: Nocturne?

Right here. Scroll up to feast your eyes on the stunning animation.

Who’s in the cast of Castlevania: Nocturne?

• Edward Bluemel (Persuasion, The Commuter, The Halcyon) as Richter, the tough young hero who’s continuing the family tradition of vampire hunting 
• Pixie Davies (The Magician’s Elephant, Mary Poppins Returns, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children) as Maria, a natural leader who’s fighting inequality in her country, and also a magic user battling the vampire elite
• Thuso Mbedu (The Woman King, The Underground Railroad, Is’Thunzi) as Annette,
  who used her power and wits to escape vampire-enforced enslavement in the Caribbean, and now wields magic to stop the impending apocalyptic threat
• Sydney James Harcourt (I’m Not Gay: A Musical, Hamilton) as Edouard, who left his life as a talented opera singer to aid and accompany Annette
• Nastassja Kinski (Inland Empire, Cat People, Paris, Texas) as Tera, a mother and mentor to young vampire hunters and magic users, who has her own share of past trauma to bear
• Zahn McClarnon (Reservation Dogs, Dark Winds, Fargo) as Olrox, who killed Richter’s mother years ago and now must decide whether he can stomach teaming up with his sworn enemy in order to stop vampiric world domination
• Franka Potente (Titans, Run Lola Run, The Bourne Identity) as Erzsebet Báthory, aka the one foretold. She’s the queen of vampires, and, if all goes as planned, of the entire world. (Her character is very loosely based on the various folkloric stories and contested histories surrounding a real-life noblewoman.)

What happens in Castlevania: Nocturne?

In the thick of the French Revolution, members of the so-called lower classes are rising up to fight inequality: “It’s the natural order for them to milk us dry with impossible rents and unpayable taxes,” Maria (Davies), a young leader, laments. Meanwhile, Richter Belmont (Bluemel) senses a far grimmer and greater danger. He’s picked up his family’s long-held tradition of vampire hunting, a vocation that goes back almost as long as a vampiric life span (in other words, forever). But he’s never seen anything quite like what he’s witnessing now — could the drastic uptick in vampire activity have something to do with the death of his mother? And what’s up with this rumored news of a supposed vampire messiah? 

Richter joins forces with Maria and an unlikely crew of characters whose toughened exteriors bely their various tragic backstories. Bringing their formidable shape-shifting powers to bear, they seek to prevent the seemingly imminent reign of the vampire messiah. Their last-ditch battle to save humanity becomes fraught with existential questions as each vampire hunter is forced to confront their own troubled (and deeply human) traumatic past. And as the vampires threaten to leave the world in eternal darkness, there’s no time to spare — and plenty of dark drama on display. Picture magical attacks and beautifully animated battles amid sunless churches and cobblestone alleyways and blue-black nighttime skies — plus, of course, the appearance of the iconic Belmont whip.

[Need to make sense of it all? Check out this handy ending explainer. Beware, spoilers abound!]

Is Castlevania: Nocturne based on a video game?

Yes, and then some — The Castlevania anime series is part of the Castlevania galaxy of now-iconic video games by the Konami company, including toys, manga, graphic novels, and more.

Is Castlevania: Nocturne based on a true story?

Sort of. The plot of Castlevania: Nocturne takes its cues from the French Revolution, and also from an earlier era: the web of contested history and folklore surrounding the Hungarian noblewoman and alleged serial killer Erzsébet Báthory (1560–1614).

When did the original Castlevania series premiere?

Castlevania: Nocturne’s predecessor, Castlevania, premiered on Netflix on July 7, 2017. It continued for four seasons, which you can rewatch here.

Will there be a Season 2 of Castlevania: Nocturne?

Yes, Castlevania: Nocturne will be returning for a second season. Stay tuned for more details. You can watch all eight episodes of Castlevania: Nocturne now on Netflix.

For more scoops from Geeked Week 2023, head to geekedweek.com and follow Netflix Geeked on X.

Epic Anime to Stream NowA dose of Japanese animation.