Nightwatch (1997)

Posted By: Someonelse
Date: Aug. 3, 2011

Nightwatch (1997)
DVD5 | ISO | NTSC 16:9 (720x480) | 01:40:59 | 4,18 Gb
Audio: English AC3 5.1 @ 448 Kbps; French AC3 5.1 @ 448 Kbps | Subs: English SDH
Genre: Horror, Thriller | 2 wins | USA

In 1996, director Ole Bornedal remade his critically acclaimed Danish thriller Nattevagten (1994) for an English speaking audience, using screenwriter Steven Soderbergh to assist with the screenplay. I've never seen Bornedal's 1994 original, however after viewing this film many times on an old pan and scan VHS tape, I found it striking to finally see the film in its full widescreen presentation. Judging by reviews I have read the original is considerably more graphic, in fact many rate it higher than the Hollywood remake.

Martin Bells (Ewan McGregor) is approaching a transition in his life, currently in his final semester of law school and involved in a serious relationship with his girlfriend Katherine (Patricia Arquette). Struggling to make ends meet, he accepts a night shift job as a security guard so that he can study and earn some money at the same time. The job itself entails regular rounds of the decrepit city morgue and its many darkly bizarre corridors, not a position flooded with applicants I would imagine. The media at this time is dominated by news of a string of murdered prostitutes, and aside from some DNA the police admit to having no definitive leads. Inspector Cray (Nick Nolte) is in charge of the case and comes into contact with Martin regularly at the morgue, offering him tantalising tit-bits of information about the cases to pass the long dark hours. After settling into the new job, Martin inadvertently finds himself a suspect in the killings when he begins a series of schoolboy-like dares with his mate James (Josh Brolin) to relieve their boredom. He knows he is being framed, but convincing those around him of his innocence proves to be a challenge.

Director Ole Bornedal has a superb eye for style and atmosphere, and the cast he has assembled features many familiar faces, including a surprising appearance by Brad Dourif as the night doctor. Quentin Tarantino's editor of choice, Sally Menke, gives the film a graceful fluidity rarely seen in thrillers such as this. Although it feels somewhat condensed and a little quirky at times, this is an effective little thriller that will keep you guessing till the end.

IMDB


For the first time ever my mother actually said something was "good" and it turned out to actually be good, but surprisingly enough I find this film to be more than just good. Writer and director Ole Bornedal seems to have made a Danish version of this film back in '94, but apparently peeople in Hollywood liked it and thought about making an english version, which was once again directed by Mr. Bornedal. With Ewan McGregor, Patricia Arquette and Nick Nolte being the three most recognized names in this film, we have nothing to worry about.


Ewan McGregor plays Martin, a young man with a very normal life: He has a nice girlfriend, Katherine (Patricia Arquette), he goes to law school and he hangs out with his best friend James (Jorh Brolin); but Martin and Katherine need some money, so Martin gets a new job: He will be a "night watch-man" in a morgue (or something), where he'll work at nights, evidently.


Meanwhile, a serial killer is out there murdering prostitues; Martin gets to know the policeman on the case, Inspector Cray (Nick Nolte), when the later goes to the morgue when a new body arrives, a new murdered prostitute. By some really dumb reasons Martin and James started talking to a hooker, Joyce, who says some stuff Martin finds interesting, and will later cause more problems than expected.


The only other thing I will say about the plot is that somehow Martin thinks he's trying to be set up by someone, and eventually becomes a suspect to the murders; he has no clue of how to save himself.

This is a great thriller. The movie never loses it's dark atmosphere, which isn't really scary but definitely creepy. The film does a wonderful job of not revealing the killer's identity to a certain point where the audience is just desperate to know. Since we don't know who the killer is, director Bornedal did a great job making the characters look suspicios, like James for example, he seems like a complete nutcase who plays "funny jokes"; or the duty doctor (played by Brad Dourif), who acts weird and seems to really dislike Martin. The only thing I think could have made it better is a few more suspicios characters, but with what the film had is enough to make it exiting anyways.


I liked the film, this is one of my favourite genres. Performances by the main characters were great, very convincing. The plot is quite intriguing and the ending is fine, although some could say is a little bit predictable; I predicted something, but didn't ruin much of the film for me, it wasn't very important. I'd recommend this one to everyone who's in the mood for a nice thriller, you'll thank me later.
Arturo Garcia Lasca, Movie-Vault.com

Extras:
- Sneak Peeks
- Theatrical Trailer
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