Night Watch

2004 Director Timur Bekmambetov

This is the first installment in a trilogy of two by Bekmambetov. The concluding installment, Twilight or Dusk Watch, was, unfortunately, shelved. I hope the project is taken back up before Hollywood makes a poor American imitation.

In 1342, the Warriors of Light and the Warriors of Darkness, realising that a final battle will only result in both being annihilated, declare an uneasy truce under which each side will form a law enforcement team to monitor the other side's activities. The Warriors of Light, who enforce the powers of good, patrol the Night Watch, while the Warriors of Darkness, who openly embrace evil, patrol the Day Watch. Each watch group also contains "Others," mortals with supernatural powers from both sides that include vampires, shapeshifters, witches, and the like. Prophecy suggests that one day, a Great One will surface and permanently extinguish the threat of an apocalyptic war between the two sides by upsetting the balance, lending greater power to either good or evil and thus determining the future of mankind forever.

Unless you understand Russian reasonably well you will have to pay a great deal of attention to the tone while reading the subtitles or you will miss much of the underlying irony and pathos in the film. Darkly shot with great action sequences and some very inventive special effects this is a very enjoyable film. More is gained by repeat viewings.