Night Watch puts new face on battle of good vs evil

by Zara Messano

Wednesday February 22, 2006

Long ago, the forces of light and the forces of darkness met in a battle that would annihilate all existence. To save themselves, they made a pact that they would live side by side. The Day Watch would watch the forces of light, the Night Watch the forces of darkness. Each watch would keep the other side in check so that balance could be maintained. When a thousand years and more pass, it is prophesied that the Great One will come. He will choose one side or the other to fight on, and the side he chooses will win. This man is Anton (Konstantin Khabensky).

The light and the dark live among everyone, the world seemingly unaware of their presence and importance. The story, the first part in a trilogy based on the books of Sergei Lukyaneko, follows Anton’s journey to fight for the light side as a night watchman. He struggles with his duty, overwhelmed by being asked to kill. Each side has its own supernatural powers; the dark ones often live as vampires, the light ones as beings both human and animal.

This film, directed by Timur Bekmambetov, is more than a horror film. It is an epic fantasy, sci-fi thriller and so much more. From the internet that looks into the future to the fascinated and chilling cinematography swooping through Russia’s subways and highways, everything in the film builds to create a captivating experience that nearly escapes description. The plot is intricate, and the audience will have the feeling of always moving along with the characters on their chaotic journey.

The most captivating thing about the film is the imagery. Time after time you will be surprised and enchanted by what appears before your eyes; the use of special effects is extraordinary but not over-done. As this is the first installment, by the end you will be hungry for more. All in all, this film is by far one of the most original and entrancing I think we will see in 2006.

Runtime: 114 min; Russia with English subtitles.