Review of Day Watch (2006) by Cassandra M — 09 Nov 2009

First rule - you have to have seen Nochnoi Dozor a.k.a Night Watch. Its well worth seeing Night Watch for a number of reasons, but understanding the second film in this trilogy is probably the best of them. It makes the whole first film worthwhile. While Nochnoi Dozor was very over the top and quite silly (but brilliant in its own way), Dnevnoi Dozor carries off its excesses off much more confidently and brings real meaning to the first film.

Second rule - you've really got to let yourself go of any preconceptions. This film is as mad as they come and completely unlikely, but wonderfully enjoyable in a very eccentric way. If you start comparing it to Hollywood equivalents you'll miss the point, and if you think you're going to see some "serious" Matrixesque fantasy, you'll be sorely disappointed. This film is pure myth, with the inexplicably unreal events and very much larger than life characterisations that any myth comes with.

The fact that it is a Russian myth and full of many Russian references is both frustrating and at the same time great for a Russian viewer like me. You know there are hidden depths that you'll never quite get, but its fascinating to watch. And these bits are fairly infrequent, so don't be put off by it. :-) Third rule - don't see it yet, because you'll really want to know what on earth (or maybe not) they are going to do in the third part!