
Night Watch
2004, Fantasy/Action, 1h 55m
131 Reviews 100,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
This Russian horror/fantasy film pits darkness and light against each other using snazzy CGI visuals to create an extraordinary atmosphere of a dank, gloomy city wrestling with dread. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Anton Gorodetsky
Geser
Zavulon
Sorceress Olga
Alisa Donnikova
Darya, Witch
News & Interviews for Night Watch
Critic Reviews for Night Watch
All Critics (131) | Top Critics (42) | Fresh (79) | Rotten (52)
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The punchy, nonstop visual effects crowd out coherent storytelling.
October 20, 2009 | Full Review… -
For a good hour and change, the film is a big toy box that teases you out of the Gloom.
July 7, 2007 | Full Review… -
A highly promising curtain-raiser to an ambitious trilogy.
April 4, 2006 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review… -
Twisted, mysterious, bold and compelling, this is a raging cyclone of a movie, sucking up elements from the likes of Blade and The Matrix and whirling them into something new.
April 1, 2006 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review… -
Bekmambetov is a confident, original director, whose visions reveal him as someone to watch -- beyond the next two installments of this trilogy.
March 11, 2006 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review… -
It has a refreshing Old World take on a never-ending fantasy war between vampires and the forces of 'light.'
March 3, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
Audience Reviews for Night Watch
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Apr 29, 2013Night Watch is one of those films that tends to push the limits of a certain genre. The result is a film that displays something unique in terms of storytelling and direction. The film is a new breed on the vampire story, and though not perfect by any means, this one is still quite good and manages to be a roller coaster ride of action and horror from start to finish. At times, you get lost in the plot as you try to understand what is going on, but you do get caught up in the visuals, which is the strength of the film. The plot is good, but it is a multi-layered affair that you may need to revisit just so you get the big picture overall. The direction is stylish and well done with emphasis on action, and slow motion sequences. This film had the potential of being much better than what it turned out to be. Director Timur Bekmambetov always goes for visual presentation while giving the audience a so-so plot. Although the ideas for the plot are quite good, I found them all over the place and underdeveloped for the most part. If there would have been more attention for a cohesive storyline, than on the visuals, then this certainly would have been a great film. The result is an average movie with a good story, but like I said, it was all over the place and lacked flow. The performances were good, and the ideas displayed on-screen are what makes this one worth seeing. I enjoyed it, and I appreciated the fact that Bekmambetov tried to reinvent the genre, but he is a director that crafts films that are a bit hard to follow due to their unique look. Night Watch has its fair share of imperfections, but it is a good twist on vampire lore and it has plenty of new things to add to the genre.Alex r Super Reviewer
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Mar 25, 2013Epic, well told, and brutal. Definitely a film worth seeing.Jason 123 D Super Reviewer
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Aug 27, 2011Pretty cool, though really weird it times. It's very different from anything you've ever seen before, and I mean that in a good way. However, it can be really weird at times, so keep that in mind if you plan on watching this.Stephen S Super Reviewer
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Oct 04, 2010Incoherent, messy, rushed, and more than a little cheesy, but nonetheless has its visual thrills and inventiveness to compensate for all of its flaws, at least most of the time. The story is the part that's cheesy, pitting light and against dark in a modern day setting with vampire's and humans called "others". The different is if you choose the light or dark side. Light others are called night watchers because they make sure the dark ones do not break the peace treaty among the two, while dark ones are called day watchers and do the same thing for the light others. It's an interesting take on the old light vs. dark, but the movie doesn't know when to take interest in certain subplots and when to not. Many subplots lead to quick and unsatisfying ending, and the finale is incredibly anti-climactic. It does have a few twists I didn't see coming though, and the movie is never boring. It's frustrating and fascinating in almost equal measure.Josh L Super Reviewer
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