Since its initial release back in 2011, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has become renowned for being one of the most re-released games of all time. Despite this, it seems fans of the enduring fantasy RPG still can’t seem to get enough of the game’s atmospheric setting, bloody combat and compelling quests. For those looking to delve into something similar – minus the countless hours of commitment, of course – The Spine of Night is definitely worth checking out. An incredibly gruesome fantasy epic with elements of horror, The Spine of Night is an animated film beautifully brought to life through the art of rotoscoping, and is currently available to watch on Shudder.

Rotoscoping is a technique in which live-action footage is manually traced over to create a realistic and notably distinctive style of animation. For reference, legendary animator Ralph Bakshi frequently employed this method of filmmaking, with his 1978 adaptation of The Lord of the Rings standing out as perhaps the most widely-known example of this. The Spine of Night proves the art form is alive and well, with its striking animation pairing perfectly with its ultraviolent world of swords and sorcery. Unlike Skyrim, however, The Spine of Night has flown somewhat under the radar since it was released in 2021 – but has all the makings of a cult classic.

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What is The Spine of Night About?

The Spine of Night weaves a sprawling yarn of gods, kings, tyrants and sorcerers, with its story spanning an unknown – but presumably vast – amount of time. The movie primarily centers its focus on a group of disparate characters, both heroic and villainous, and how their interactions with an immensely powerful flower imbued with godlike power – known as the Bloom – reshape the world around them, informing their own personal quests. The story also explores the origins of the Bloom and fleshes out the lore of the impressively realized world it takes place in. When asked about the film's refreshing narrative structure, co-creator Morgan Galen King told Borrowing Tape:

The movie boasts an impressive amount of voice acting talent, with Lucy Lawless and Richard E. Grant playing two of the story’s central characters – the swamp-dwelling queen Tzod and the mysterious Guardian of the Bloom, respectively. Also featured in the cast are Betty Gabriel, Patton Oswalt and Joe Manganiello, as well as several other talented voice actors.

How is The Spine of Night Like Skyrim?

In the opening minutes of The Spine of Night, the movie charts Tzod’s arduous journey across a snowy, mountainous landscape in an effort to reach an impossibly large skull, within which the Guardian stands watch over the Bloom. In this moment, it’s hard not to be reminded of the Dragonborn’s grueling ascent of the Throat of the World and its Seven Thousand Steps in order to reach the monastery at High Hrothgar. This only scratches the surface of the similarities between The Spine of Night and Skyrim, however.

First and foremost, both of these fantasy tales are considerably more violent than most of their ilk. Skyrim allows players to approach combat in whichever way they see fit, but there’s no denying that its bloody swordplay and the ability to kill NPCs at will make it a game very much aimed at an adult audience. Similarly, The Spine of Night’s violence is often so extreme that it puts most horror movies to shame. This is emphasized by the movie’s rotoscoped animation, which lends a certain ‘uncanny valley’ quality to the movie that makes its gore all the more disturbing. In a similar vein, Bethesda’s RPGs are renowned for their bizarre – but endearing nonetheless – NPCs, with their stiff animations and facial expressions landing firmly in the uncanny valley.

In spite of its 90-minute running time, TheSpine of Night also manages to make its lore feel dense, and its world lived in, sharing a lot of iconography and plot elements with Skyrim. Both heavily feature magical tomes, various distinct factions, gods, rituals and religions – all tied together with an impressive score.

What did critics say about The Spine of Night?

Considering its relatively niche target audience and throwback feel, The Spine of Night has enjoyed a surprising amount of critical praise – though it appears that film critics appreciate the movie more than general audiences. The film currently sits at 81% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 70 reviews, while its audience score is slightly lower at 61%. The site’s ‘Critic’s Consensus’ reads:

The Spine of Night has received praise largely for its beautiful visuals and retro art style, as well as its trippy atmosphere and unconventional style of storytelling. Empire Magazine’s Kambole Campbell awarded the film four out of five stars, stating that:

All in all, The Spine of Night is sure to strike a chord with those looking to indulge in a fresh, unique fantasy setting after beating Skyrim for the tenth time. The movie can be found on the horror streaming service Shudder, or can alternatively be rented or bought on Amazon Prime Video.

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Perfect for players who want to play Skyrim on the go, but don’t have a Steamdeck or another portable gaming system, this deal is likely not going to be repeated until end of year sales start going. Take the opportunity now to become the dragonborn on the Switch!