As spin off's go, this is one of the better ones I've seen. This movie contained a lot of information and content from the novel that was glossed over in the show.

We got to see a side of both Nie Mingjue and Nie Huaisang that was not depicted in the series. The movie showed the depth of their relationship, and helped to bring context to their actions, as well as better visualize Mingjue's downfall. I also always felt that one thing the series failed to represent fully was the power of the Qinghe Nie Sect (at least before you know what happened), and this movie really put them on display and highlighted their history. Additionally, I was delighted to see the more serious (and also smart) side of Huaisang, and how he in effect "grew up". His character development had always been a point of interest for me, and this movie did a great job of bringing his individual plot to life.

I could go on and on about how much I loved this movie for adding more depth and development to Huaisang's (and Mingjue, I won't count him out lol) character, but I'll spare you. In terms of acting and production, in my opinion, it's a bit better than The Living Dead, but still not quite as good as The Untamed. I'll admit, some of the effects had me laughing out loud, but it didn't hinder the story at all. Definitely check this out if you have time! It's well worth it.