Review of Nightwatch (1997) by William M — 23 Aug 2007

This excellently dark piece of Russian gothic fantasy manages to achieve what many of its Hollywood rivals fail perpetually: the creation of a franchise that is as artistic as it is thrilling. For the most part, the story of Nightwatch is very similar to that of Blade and Underworld.

However, this is elevated beyond the monotony of these other films by arthouse cinematography, highly evolved computer effects and particularly it's editing. For the first time ever, a foreign film has succeeded in removing the boredom from it's subtitles by intergrating them into the narrative through the editing process: Screams spiral forth from mouths, vampire seductiveness evaporates into crimson miasma and conversations between two characters devide frames up into left and right.

Truly, Nightwatch is a landmark title not only for world cinema but for cinema itself. Who knows, in time these new techniques may see world cinema become a part of mainstream society. Easy five stars.

I can't wait for Daywatch (the sequal) to be released.