All that stands between light and darkness is the Night Watch.
For as long as humanity has existed, there have been "Others" among us; Witches, Vampires and Shape-Shifters who are soldiers in the eternal war between Light and Dark.
Light Others protect mankind from Dark Others, who plague and torture humans.
Over 1000 years ago a truce was struck between Geser (Vladimir Menshov), Lord of the Light, and Zavulon (Viktor Verzhbitsky), General of Darkness. They agreed that no-one could be forced to good or evil, people must choose freely for themselves. To uphold this truce, each side established underground forces; the soldiers of the Light would be called Night Watch, making sure Dark Others obeyed the truce. And the soldiers of Darkness would be called Day Watch, to do the same.
Ancient prophecy foretells that one day the Great One will arrive who can end the threat of an apocalyptic battle between Light and Dark Others. That day has come, and the Great One, once he or she is identified, must choose whether to destroy the light within or battle the surrounding darkness. This choice will reveal mankind's destiny.
1992: Anton Gorodetsky (Konstantin Khabensky), a broken-hearted man, desperate to win back his fiancée, seeks out the black magic services of a witch. This Dark Other, about to use her magic for evil, is arrested by the Night Watch moments before for completing her spell. The cataclysmic event awakens Anton to discover that he is an Other. Now he must choose whether to become a protector of light or warrior of darkness.
Today: Somewhere on the streets of Moscow the "Great One" wanders, oblivious to his or her powers. Anton, along with his Night Watch team, race to find and protect the Great One from Zavulon and his Day Watch vampires who seek to plunge the world into darkness. Whoever reaches the Great One first will hold the balance of power in their hands and control the fate of humanity.
Night Watch (Nochnoj dozor) is the first instalment of a trilogy based on the best-selling science fiction novels of Sergei Lukyanenko entitled Night Watch, Day Watch and Dusk Watch.
Special Agent Matti
Night Watch is a rinky-dink Russian roller coaster of spookiness, violence and tragedy (remember that the Russians invented vodka). The raw grittiness that pervades the film is much superior to the slick Hollywood grittiness (and stylishness) of Underworld. You can imagine this being shot guerrilla-style on the midnight streets of Moscow - strange and fearsome figures scuttling through the abandoned streets, strange noises echoing through the dark...
Cool.
And just think: there are two more episodes to go. Woo hoo!
MA 15+ (Strong violence)
114 minutes (1:54 hours)
Film: 13 October 2005
DVD retail: 15 March 2006
VHS retail: 15 March 2006
