Night Watch (2004)

Director: Timur Bekmambetov

Starring: Konstantin Khabenskiy, Vladimir Menshov, Mariya Poroshina

A fantasy-thriller set in present-day Moscow where the respective forces that control daytime and nighttime do battle.

‘Night Watch’ is a good versus evil movie, but presented very different to most films in this genre. There is a truce between good and evil – agreed upon by the Geser of the Light, and Zavulon of the Dark. People of the Dark or Light forces with special powers and abilities, are referred to as Others. Others only discover their abilities at a turning point in their lives.

Anton Gorodetsky (well played by Konstantin Khabenskiy) visits a witch to cast a spell so he can get his wife back, and for her to loose the baby, which – according to the witch – is not his. However, the Others intervene, and it is then revealed Anton is also an Other. And so he starts working for the Night Watch, who ensures the Dark Others keep to the rules of the truce. The Dark Others are called the Day Watch, ensuring in return the Light Others stick to the rules.

Anton has a gift of seeing the future. He is given the task of finding an Other, who would tip the balance of the truce and endanger the lives of humanity. The Other in question, is a 12-year old boy, Yegor. There to help Anton, is Olga – also an Other. There are quite a few twists and one has to carefully pay attention to the details. And then there’s the mysterious Svetlana – cursed by a human – who would bring upon damnation, according to Anton’s visions.

The action sequences are really well done, and the film is fast-paced and exciting. The film features stunning visuals and make-up, and fantastic editing. I also loved the rock soundtrack.

‘Night Watch’ earned nearly $34 million on a $4.2 million budget.

In Russian.

Would I watch it again? Absolutely.