Night Watch

Review by Adam Weeks

Night Watch, or Nochnoi Dozor as it’s known in its native Russia… Where to begin with this one? I think the best comment for it is what my best friend had to say as we were leaving the theatre – “Dude… That was some trippy shit!”

Who’d have thought that the film that The Matrix and Underworld tried so desperately to be would come out of Russia, and at the end of it all cost less than 4 million dollars to make?

Based on the first part of a trilogy of novels by author Sergei Lukyanenko (the other parts being Day Watch and Dusk Watch), Night Watch features the most kick-ass of movie monsters: Vampires.

Centuries ago, the forces of light and dark met in an epic battle that both sides soon realised could not be won without the death of all involved. On that day, a truce was struck between the two opposing leaders. The forces of Dark (classic-style vampires) would no longer prey on human lives like they were tearing into a pack of hotcakes from McDonalds, and in return, the “Others” on the Light who make up the conveniently titled “Day Watch” would keep the peace, and monitor any transgressions.

The main character Anton (Konstantin Khabensky) is introduced visiting an elderly woman, who assures him that she can force his recently separated wife to come back to him, but as part of the bargain, he must take on the sin of killing her as yet unborn child by means of a curse.

That’s when the “Day Watch” bust in, and during the tense moments that follow, Anton is awakened as a brand new “Other,” and chooses to fight for the side of the light.

Several years later, we catch up with Anton hunting down a pair of Vampires that are illegally coercing a young boy via telepathy into becoming their next meal.

While tracking the boy in an attempt to save him, Anton stumbles across a young woman who may or may not be about to bring an end to the world……

I wasn’t exaggerating when I said it before; this is what you die-hard Matrix fans were looking for in the sequels - an extremely detailed story that flows like the smoothest knob of butter.

It offers teasing glimpses of storylines yet to play out (80% of the sequel, Day Watch, was filmed at the same time), but never to the detriment of the main story unravelling in front of your eyes.

Be warned though, this film is a rollercoaster of visuals that you are going to have trouble digesting in one viewing. I’ve now seen it twice, and it was only after the second trip back that I fully appreciated how intensely detailed this film actually is.

Now, for those of you playing at home, the film is completely in Russian, with the exception of some voice over work at the very beginning, but for those of you who generally don’t like to read while you’re watching a film, let me tell you this without sounding completely weird – Night Watch has the coolest subtitles I’ve ever seen.

It really surprised me. I had heard good things about it prior to seeing it, but I’d thought to myself, “A Russian film about Vampires?”

The thing that surprised me is the intense focus of the players and storylines in the film. If it isn’t careful, this is a franchise that very easily could turn into an epic of 'Lord Of The Rings' proportions!

Want a simpler Western line for the film? Night Watch is like The Matrix, Blade and Underworld on heavy duty crack with the volume turned to eleven – seriously intense.

4 out of 5

Night Watch
Australian release: Thursday the 13th of October, 2005
Cast: Konstantin Khabensky, Vladimir Menshov, Maria Poroshina.
Director: Timur Bekmambetov.
Website: Click here.

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