Original subtitles

Provided by explosiveskull https://twitter.com/kaboomskull

Come out, my child...

Don't fear us. We only want to help you.

Help you ease your pain.

I can smell you. And so can my sister...

Child. Please.

Hello, my child...

Come out and make us proud... won't you?

Grimur!

You cannot escape him...

It is your fate.

Please... please!

Help me!

Life begins in pain...

Pain is necessary...

He is coming...

Rejoice!

For you are truly blessed!

Please... help me.

Robin.

Honey, hey, wakey, wakey.

I think we're almost there, maybe...

How long was I out for?

Oh, a couple of hours.

Leo, this forest looks exactly like the last forest.

That's because it is. It's 70,000 square miles.

A local in the village told me that,

and he also told me how old it is.

Do you want to know?

Really damn old?

Yes, tack 1,000 years onto that

and you're in the ballpark, sweetheart.

Babe, come on, I think we're lost.

The GPS says we aren't,

or at least it did before we lost signal.

We could ask... him.

Okay, the GPS is right.

We're not lost.

Oh, so that tells you that we're not lost?

Okay.

Are we sure grandpa Karl wasn't a serial killer?

You alright?

Yeah, I'm just a little woozy.

Jetlag?

- Yeah, still, but fine. - Okay.

- I'll get out bags, alright? - Okay.

How long since you saw him last?

The day we left.

I was six, maybe seven.

That's when he and your dad fell out?

Something like that.

Ooh... Damn!

It's a hefty piece of artillery here.

It's got to be worth something.

If he was here, he would break your face for touching that.

Ooh, protective about his antiques, huh?

That one was his favorite.

How the hell do you remember which was his favorite?

I just do.

As a kid he always had it with him

whenever he was telling us stories.

It was like a prop.

He said it was a gift from another hunter.

What were these guys hunting, exactly?

Everything.

- Is this him? - Yep.

Grandpa Karl and me.

Well, you look happy enough.

- What's that? - What?

Did you draw that?

Is that you?

I'm going to walk around outside for a bit.

So, grandpa Karl butchered a shit ton of bunnies

before the stroke hit.

I don't know why I didn't expect it.

God, that smell!

And yet my dad still wonders why my mom went batshit.

I'll take care of it.

There's some ginger gum in my backpack.

Thank you.

Rest in peace, fellas.

Bunnies buried.

- I wouldn't put it past him. - That was disgusting.

I don't think I like grandpa Karl anymore.

Actually, I don't know if I ever liked him.

Welcome to the family.

You know, when I was a kid,

I used to think this place was paradise.

Even after my mom left.

The trees, the air, animals everywhere.

Always felt like I belonged here.

It definitely doesn't skip on the ambience.

Clothes already smell like death.

Easy fix.

So, how about we get you out of that death shirt?

Stay here. Stay.

Who are you?

What are you doing here?

I'm sorry, but...

No Deutsch.

Yes, American.

English.

I speak English.

Lucky for you, so do I.

So, I'll repeat my question.

What are you doing here?

A visitor. We're visiting.

Karl's family?

Yes.

I'm his granddaughter.

Of course.

The little bird.

It's Robin.

I am Arthur, Arthur Fuchs.

Whiskey?

No, we don't drink.

I mean, we do, but...

Shit, what am I saying?

I'd hoped you would decline, but I had to offer.

This is our way.

So, you are...?

Leo.

Surprised you didn't go for the elbow bump.

Lion.

And a little bird.

A curious match.

Papa!

Not by the ears, Amalia. Remember?

Sorry, Papa.

Who are they?

Friends of Karl.

Karl... the one who died?

This is my daughter, Amalia.

Her English is not the best.

Hi there, Amalia, it's a nice rabbit.

Is rabbit the only thing to eat around here, or what?

You knew Karl?

Yeah.

He was a good marksman.

Almost as good as me.

Go fetch our meat.

So, you kill a lot of animals?

Not this time of year.

These woods can be...

unkind.

How so?

- You don't know tales? - What tales?

It's supposedly haunted.

No shit, hence the pic of you and a monster...

Monster?

What did Karl tell you?

Grandpa told me lots of things,

silly stories about monsters and fairies,

and magical creatures that lived in the woods.

I drew him a picture before I left.

It's nothing.

People always say that when they don't want to talk,

that it is nothing or no.

Der Jagerwald is not one for fairy tales.

Jagerwald?

The Hunter's Forest.

Game is plentiful in the spring.

In the winter time, not much.

We are collecting what we can, while we can.

Stockpiling, we call it stockpiling.

Within days, every stag,

bear, bird, even rabbit will be gone.

Not even footprints left.

And that is only the animals.

What else is there?

People?

Do people disappear?

Many.

Men, women, children playing.

Entire families.

It's as if the woods swallows them whole.

What do you mean?

One man survived.

Disappeared for weeks.

And then one day he walked out of the woods.

That's fortunate.

He was covered in blood.

Head to toe.

But no wounds.

He was raving like a madman

about a horned demon, and a heart of death.

Died of shock at the local hospital.

Good shot, Papa.

Well done, my girl.

What really happened to him?

He saw that which he could not unsee.

Some call him Cernunnos.

He's the master of beast and wild places.

The great hunter.

The who?

Just another one of grandpa's scary stories

told after too much whiskey.

The winter solstice comes, the great hunt has begun.

With arrow, sword, and knives,

the supreme hunter consumes his lives.

He is the governor of pristine nature,

of the uncivilized world.

He is man, beast, god, all at once.

He is the Lord of the Annwn...

- of the before. - Before What?

Before men began to wreck the world.

I must be going.

My condolences.

Karl was a friend. A fool... but a friend.

Night is coming to kill the day.

Sleep well.

And don't go out walking after dark.

So...

You up for, like, a nighttime picnic?

No, not even close.

Back inside.

Sometimes, you know just what I need.

A little vodka martini.

Duty free, by the way.

So, want to get drunk and make out?

Let me think a little... Yes.

Mmm.

Ah, that's better than great.

Smooth, just like me.

Every time.

Oh, look at this place.

What'll we do with all this stuff?

Like I said,

some of this stuff's got to be worth something.

I mean, we can keep some of it to remember him.

Yeah, I mean, I guess you're right.

That's what we're supposed to do, remember people.

Why did we even come here?

Because he left you everything, such as it is.

You have to mean something to him, right?

And we needed an adventure.

This is at least that, right?

I mean, we're here now, in his house,

in this super spooky, but kind of romantic forest.

Eating this savory

and absolutely delicious German sausage.

I actually enjoy it.

I remember him

talking about how our family were these fabled hunters.

It was our calling for hundreds of years

and ever since my great, great, greater,

some such grandfather, was handed a bow and arrow,

he used to hunt the land and feed the people,

and we were providers.

He'd take me on these walks,

and tell me the stories about wild folks and spells

and gods of the forest.

But my favorite part was the animals.

They were everywhere.

We saw them eating and drinking out of the pond,

and I thought I could hear them speaking.

And then on my birthday,

the last year I was here,

he took me on a different kind of walk.

We saw a stag in the clearing.

And it was beautiful.

Majestic.

I cried when he handed me the bow and arrow,

and I told him I couldn't do it.

So, he did it instead.

And when the stag fell, I froze.

So, he dragged me over the body, and very practically

taught me how to butcher it.

He took out its insides.

He made me name each of them.

And then he cut out its eyes and ate one of them.

He said it was good luck.

And then he forced the other one into my mouth.

And I...

I tried to chew it,

but it was covered in blood and I gaged and I spit it out.

It was torture.

I was so scared and so confused.

My father was so angry when he found out,

and grandpa said that...

family traditions had to be upheld.

That's when I started drawing monsters.

And that's when my dad knew we needed a change.

So, we left.

I'm sorry.

That's an absolutely horrific story.

I love you.

I love you, too.

But don't worry, we'll figure it out.

I mean, even if we have to move in.

I mean, can't you see us living all rustic and stuff?

A couple of kids running in the front...

forest, whatever.

Okay, so how are we going to make money and stuff?

We'll live off the land like hunter guy,

like your granddad.

I don't really see that being in your wheelhouse.

Yeah, I'm bullshitting you. I don't want to live here.

Oh, shit...

Jesus, this... no.

Come here.

Much better.

See, now I won't have any nightmares

about being gored in my sleep.

- What will you do with it? - I think I have an idea.

Yep, under the bed.

Alright, perfect.

Okay.

Okay, you can be big spoon.

Mm, okay.

The eye of the hunter must always be open...

...looking for opportunity, looking for danger...

...for prey or predator.

Are you watching closely, Little Bird?

You must eat!

It is our way.

The only way!

Go and help them.

[growling

Robin!

Let's go!

Shit!

Like little rabbits.

Always like scared, little rabbits.

Barbaric...

and crude.

They deserved more.

The old man is gone.

There is only... these two.

This one...

She is his blood.

A promise fulfilled.

Help. No, please. Please!

No!

Fell!

Come now, child.

This is good for you.

Leo.

Now the male.

Leo.

Leo, wake up.

Little bird.

Arthur?

They took you as well.

Where are we?

Nowhere.

No fucking where.

Who took us?

Crazy people.

I am not so sure.

What the hell else would they be?

No, I think Arthur might be right.

There was something about them.

They were so methodical, so focused.

So, how does that information helps us

to get the hell out of here?

They have three women.

I only remember two women,

and a giant of a man with a mask.

The monster.

Took me and my boyfriend

in the middle of a lovely evening.

Papa, where are we?

The place we're going to die, kid.

Don't frightened my child, girl.

My name is Katya, and she should be frightened.

I won't ask again.

Arguing is not helping us right now.

I agree.

Leo...

- You okay? - Sort of.

Christ, my head.

What did they make us drink? It tastes like sewer.

I don't know.

But we'll figure it out. We'll be okay.

Where did they take you two from?

Why does it matter?

My guy brought me to his cabin, not far from here.

Actually, I don't know how far anymore.

I was staying at the hostel in Altensteig.

Oh, fuck, I don't know what happened.

Please just... try to think harder.

Fuck you. Who put you in charge?

Look, Katya,

the first thing we need to discover

How do we do that, handsome?

I don't know. We look around.

A way out.

What the shit is that?

Has anybody seen it before?

- No. - No.

Do you know this symbol?

It's got to be ten degrees out here.

You've clearly never been in ten degree weather.

Does anybody have a spare blanket,

or maybe a space heater?

How can you joke right now?

Humor is the refuge of the damned.

I don't like you.

Shh!

Listen.

Hey, let us go, please.

You can't do this to us.

Open these.

That's my boyfriend.

Oh, fuck it.

My client.

What is this?

What is happening?

The time has come!

Arthur! What she's saying?

"We gather this day

to give our tribute to the god of the forest..."

"The god of all forests."

"Lord Cernunnos."

"One true lord of the wild world."

"This holy winter day, we honor him with devotion."

"And sacrifice."

"Lord of beasts,

we offer you this prey on the day of your rebirth."

in your divinity.

Yes, we now bless this holy place..."

"...with his blood."

Grimur!

The first blood...

...we usher in the new hunt.

It is done.

His time has come.

The three of us welcome him.

The solstice has come.

The hunt has begun.

Bring him to the hut.

What the fucking hell is this?

Who are you?

We are servants.

Servants of the hunter.

Fuck off, you troll!

Such an ugly tongue for a whore.

You speak English?

We speak many things, child.

Tongues forgotten by humankind.

Tongues never heard. Tongues forbidden.

Well, then, who are you?

Hettica is my name.

My sisters are Latara and Fell.

We are the animal's protectors of the forest.

Priestesses of the Lord Cernunnos.

The demigod reborn.

Witches.

We are merely servants.

Servants of the hunt.

Fell!

Leave her be. We don't want his game spoiled.

We're game? You said game?

Yes.

Sacrificial victims gathered for his sport.

Whose sport?

The great hunter, of course.

Cernunnos is a myth.

He is that, and more.

He was reborn in the night, as always, this time of year.

And we will repay his coming with fresh game and sport.

We honor him with your life.

I don't understand.

This is the way. It is how it has always been.

He was born in the great kingdom of Hyperborea.

In the Annwn, the time before time.

the great white stag, a glorious miracle.

And he taught man to hunt, to slaughter,

to eat fresh flesh and grow strong.

They say the blood from his first kills

makes the trees grow tall,

which in turn feeds the beasts of the land,

which in turn grew fat and prospered to be hunted,

to feed man as our lord has fed.

The cycle continues to this very day.

The cycle of death and rebirth.

The seasons rise, only to fall and rise again.

And so, the day before this day, he was born,

and he shall hunt, and this land will flourish.

You understand more than you let on.

What do you mean?

This is a bag of hot shit.

What colorful words.

Okay, I don't believe it. Any of it.

What we've got here is three psycho chicks

acting out some torture fantasy,

when they should be in the village cooking sauerkraut.

The prey never believes,

until your skin hangs on his wall,

until you witness his life.

Like the cabin dweller did.

The cabin dweller, yes.

What?

Your blood, Karl...

He, too, was hunted,

and shown a rare mercy by our lord.

Why would a hunter spare any prey?

Why does the lion release the bird?

So the bird will prosper and multiply,

and cry his name out in song.

I don't believe you.

Ask his friend.

Arthur...

What are they talking about?

I did not want to upset you.

but man who came out of the forest all bloody,

shouting about the horned demon.

That was Karl.

Karl, that's fucking brilliant.

That's why he was so obsessed with this forest.

With the hunt.

He was hunting that which had hunted him,

which had hunted his family.

We're being hunted?

You will be reminded soon enough.

Unchain his quarry.

Run.

Run! Run!

Amalia!

Run.

Leo!

Robin! Robin!

- Leo! - Go! Go!

I'll find you.

Run, run...

Run!

Amalia!

Amalia?

Amalia.

Leo.

Leo!

Robin!

Keep your eyes open.

Keep your eyes open.

Leo.

Have you seen Robin?

Amalia is also gone.

- You mean... - I pray not.

She's missing, alone, in the woods.

- She was right by my side. - I know how you feel.

Arthur, you know these woods, the land.

Is there any way we can walk out of here?

It's three days' walk to the nearest village.

- And even then... - What about hiding?

I mean, there's a maze of hiding spots.

We can lay low until that thing's holy day,

or whatever, is over.

Legend says the hunt begins today.

It does not end until Cernunnos makes this last kill.

Fantastic. So, what the fuck do we do?

The witches...

They will remain close to witness the kills,

to celebrate them.

Only they can stop this now.

So, we get hold of them,

and we make them do their mumbo jumbo

to call their thing off?

- "Mumbo jumbo?" - Or spells, or whatever.

What about the asshole in the mask?

We kill him.

Have you seen the fucker?

How the hell do we accomplish that?

We choose to become the hunters, not the hunted.

Okay.

It's easy enough.

But first, we find my girl and your wife.

What about the other two?

They cannot be our concern.

Here, sit down.

Are you okay?

Yeah, fucking great.

Here.

No, that's yours.

You need it more than me, please.

Thank you.

I'm Tabitha.

So, Katya...

What are you doing here, so far from home?

This is my home now.

You don't believe that, love.

I have never seen anyone die before.

So, what are we going to do?

We find the others.

How? We don't know where they are.

We don't even know where we are right now.

We'll find them, okay? And we stay quiet.

- Okay. - Alright, let's go.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

At last!

I wouldn't drink that, if I were you.

What's the alternative?

Fair point.

Should we to be out in the open like this?

This place is absolutely beautiful.

Even in this moment.

The natural world may be worth saving after all.

Even if witches have to do it.

Didn't you say humor was the refuge of the damned?

Oh, we're all damned, love.

Every last one of us.

Tabitha!

Tabitha! Oh, my God.

I can't breathe.

What is this place?

They used to cut down trees here.

Okay.

Hey, Arthur...

I hope your plan works.

We're going to get that motherfucker.

Oh...

Better than a Louisville Slugger.

Arthur...

Jesus, what the hell hit me?

I did.

Arthur...

Arthur, what are you doing?

Hunting proverb.

One must always choose his mate wisely.

In this particular instance I had no choice,

but you guess at my meaning.

Arthur, untie me right now.

Right now.

I must save my daughter.

I'm sorry.

I know, I know.

Arthur, if you untie me, I can help you do that.

- I can help you. - You will help me.

Just as you are.

How do you know if your daughter's alive?

She is my daughter and a hunter, after all.

She will find a way. Just as I am.

Arthur, come back here!

This is about your wife as well as my daughter.

You are the lion.

You will be hunted to spare the little bird.

Arthur, please don't do this. Please.

- Hunting proverb. - Fuck the proverb!

Robin needs me.

She needs you here.

You know...

Your blood will be shed so that she may live.

She will remember you.

What more could a husband do for his wife?

Do not be afraid. He will make it quick for you.

Fuck you!

You come back here! You come back!

Damn you, you motherfucker!

Arthur, come back...

He will find you more quickly if you continue to scream.

Arthur!

Arthur, you shit stack.

Fuck!

Fuck you!

These trees, the forest...

...will remember you.

We will make sure of that.

Papa!

Ahh...

I kept her safe. I helped hide her.

Well done, my girl.

And this!

Well, what about Leo?

I have not seen him,

but I think I've bought us a little time.

What do you mean?

Never mind for now.

We must go.

Are you sure?

Hunting proverb.

It's harder to hit a moving target.

Okay, lead the way.

I'll carry this. We'll move faster.

Here...

Where are we going?

To the witches.

Why?

They are in ritual now, the ritual of the first kills.

We must find them,

and make them rescind the call to the hunt.

Wait... kills?

Who else died?

Arthur, what aren't you telling me?

I saw your husband.

You saw him?

Keep your voice down.

When did you see him? Is he alright?

When I left him, he was just fine.

You left him?

It was necessary.

What's that mean?

You left him on purpose.

For Amalia.

For my precious girl, and for you.

You abandoned my husband in these woods, for me?

- I left him for the hunter. - You left him to die!

Hear me, little bird.

He was not equipped to survive this.

It was the only way.

You...

I traded your husband's life

for that of my daughter.

I do not want to have to trade yours as well.

Fuck you!

You are making me do this.

Amalia.

Stay here! Hide!

Come out, little bird.

Do not think me a monster.

If you had a child,

and that child was all you had in the world,

you would do the same.

I do not want to hurt you.

Karl would not want me to hurt you.

Arthur!

You are weak.

Karl will have to accept my apologies.

Please don't do this.

Hunting proverb.

The panther and the sheep never hunt together.

Save... Amalia.

The blood of the kills.

We shall consume it to share his power.

And adorn this holy ground with its essence.

Fell!

With this blood...

...we consecrate and confirm our alliance to our lord of the land.

...to the god of the hunt.

...to the master of all nature.

The chapel is blessed.

We ready ourselves to welcome him home.

The feast shall be great this season.

Many wonderful flavors provided by the lord of providers.

Oh, yes...

We shall be rewarded.

Amalia?

Amalia?

Holly shit, kid! You're still alive?

Hunter. Not hunted.

Yeah, whatever, I'm just glad to see a familiar face.

Amalia.

I'm so glad you're okay.

I need you to listen to me.

We need to run until we're out of these woods

and we can't stop until we are.

Do you understand?

Papa?

Your papa, he loved you very much.

It's just...

Sometimes in life people that we love leave us

before we're ready.

Okay, German...

You were...

...his entire world...

and he gave his life...

so that you...

...could survive.

Hunter. Not hunted.

You too.

I'll take your word for it, now we've got to go.

Oh, yeah, you might need this.

Okay.

Fell!

Remember your faith.

So devout, yet so restless.

You know her...

She should be accustomed...

...after all this time.

That's a matter of perspective.

You think it will end?

What?

This. The world. The land.

Him.

Do you think, one day, it will all be gone?

As will we?

One day, we will be gone?

Like our sisters before us.

And the ones before them.

But the earth?

Our lord?

No.

He will abide.

And our sisters will oblige him.

Until the end of time?

The thing that has been is that which shall be...

...and that which is done is what shall be done.

And the circle shall not be broken.

Amalia, step back.

Death traps.

Traps, it sucks for us.

Shit.

We have to keep going north.

Polaris.

You're right.

The North Star, Polaris,

we follow that and we just stay quiet.

Papa.

Your father taught you how to read the stars.

My grandma taught me when I was little.

Karl died.

Of course.

I miss papa.

I know, Amalia...

but you're a strong girl.

You're a fighter.

We're going to be okay.

Okay, Amalia, we need to move.

Amalia.

You let her go, you big asshole!

We three, your devout servants, sisters of the glen...

...hail your victory and your presence in this, your holy temple!

Such devotion pleases me.

You!

Fetch me my weapon.

Bring her.

No! Wait!

No!

Willful child.

I honor your spirit.

And your survival.

But there can be but one survivor here tonight.

And this little bird's grandfather...

...ensured it would be her.

What are you talking about?

We have history, child.

Don't you remember?

Your life changed forever that day.

Didn't it?

Human beings will go to great lengths

for their children.

Your father tried to take you from me!

But Karl brought you back.

Even if he had to die to do so.

Now, you will serve Cernunnos, as one of the three.

But you already have three.

One of them was...

...lacking.

Quiet, Grimur.

Reality is cruel.

Pain is necessary.

She was your friend?

Yeah?

The little girl...

She is my friend.

Prepare this one for the feast.

Let her go!

Run!

I swear by the hills,

I will feast on your flesh this night.

You can try.

You're not worthy to die by our lord's weapon.

Give me the knife.

My lord...

I birthed you... help me.

I beg of you...

I have been born many times, my servant.

Your reward is your service.

Now die with your dignity.

Please...

Spare me...

I have served you.

I am Cernunnos!

Master of these woods.

Your lord and master.

It is the way of nature for death to precede new life.

One has come to take your place.

It is your time.

Stop!

Leave her alone.

If you don't...

I will slit my throat with this,

and you will be all out of witches.

Are you so ready to die?

You both have instinct for survival.

A quality we share.

It is the law of this world, those who can survive, will.

Those who cannot will feed those who can.

No!

There's more to human beings than that.

Are you so sure, little bird?

You know...

You've known since you were a child

in these great woods.

Woods that have stood since the time before time.

As I have.

There have been men...

Men were hunted in this glen

but have shown kinship with me.

Like your grandfather, little bird.

It was his promise that drove him mad, not I.

Many Karls have come, and gone,

have worshiped me knowing, or without knowing,

my wisdom imprinted upon them like...

footprints in the forest mud.

Alexander...

Caesar...

Charlemagne, the Khan...

the horsemen of the plains, and the ironmen of the north...

Your family stands in line with those ironmen.

Your lineage, the hunt...

It is your destiny.

Karl understood that.

Now, you will take your place at my side.

The hunt's lone survivor... a great honor.

For there must always be one to serve,

or to tell the tale.

The girl must die.

While you must embrace your life as my servant.

It is your family's vocation.

My family's vocation dies tonight.

I won't be your witch, or your lone survivor.

Amalia, run!

Run! Live!

You would have been my most prized servant.

I'm nobody's servant.

He spared you.

My beauty is gone.

As are my sisters.

But it matters not.

I have more.

Many more.

Everything that ends begins again.

The thing that has been is that which shall be,

and that which is done is that which shall be done.

It is the way of nature, no?

What will you do with the life he has given you?

Live.

Dear God... what happened to her?

She's alive, but weak.

Where could she have come from?

Are you alright? Can you hear me?

What happened to you?

He let me go.

Who? Who let you go?

The horned man.

Provided by explosiveskull https://twitter.com/kaboomskull