Nochnoy dozor (2004)

Director:

Timur Bekmambetov

Writers (WGA):

Timur Bekmambetov (screenplay) and
Laeta Kalogridis (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

8 July 2004 (Belarus)

Genre:

Action | Fantasy | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

All That Stands Between Light And Darkness Is The Night Watch.

Plot:

A fantasy-thriller set in present-day Moscow where the respective forces that control daytime and nighttime do battle.

Plot Keywords:

Witchcraft | Bridge | Secret Society | Extramarital Affair | Father Son Relationship

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Konstantin Khabensky	...	Anton Gorodetsky
Vladimir Menshov	...	Geser
Valeri Zolotukhin	...	Kostya's Father
Mariya Poroshina	...	Svetlana
Galina Tyunina	...	Olga, the sorceress
Yuri Kutsenko	...	Ignat (as Gosha Kutsenko)
Aleksei Chadov	...	Kostya (Anton's young vampire neighbor)
Zhanna Friske	...	Alice Donnikova
Ilya Lagutenko	...	Andrei
Viktor Verzhbitsky	...	Zavulon
Rimma Markova	...	Darya Schultz, the witch
Mariya Mironova	...	Irina, Yegor's mother
Aleksei Maklakov	...	Simeon
Aleksandr Samojlenko	...	Ilya (Bear), mage-transformer
Dmitry Martynov	...	Yegor (as Dmitri Martynov)

Also Known As:

Night Watch: Nochnoi Dozor (International: English title) (UK)
Ночной дозор (Russia)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, disturbing images and language.

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

Russia

Language:

Russian | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:18 | Netherlands:16 | Australia:MA | Brazil:16 | Germany:16 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Argentina:16 | Iceland:16 | Peru:14 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | New Zealand:R16 | Malaysia:18SG | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Japan:PG-12 | Portugal:M/16 | Canada:14A | Malaysia:U (cut) | Ireland:18 | Norway:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Czech Republic:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Finland:K-15

Filming Locations:

Moscow, Russia

Company:

Bazelevs Production

Trivia:

The film was a huge box-office hit in Russia, which made it widely despised by an underground nonconformist intellectual movement "Padonki", who criticized it for wide use of Hollywood-style filming and lack of ideas behind the FX. They labeled the movie "Nochnoy Pozor" (Night Shame).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The number plate on the Gorsvet lorry in 1992 is the same as in 2004; but the current standard for number plates was introduced in 1995.

Quotes:

[Vampiress Larisa holds Yegor hostage, threatening to bite his neck]
Vampiress Larisa, initiate: You, the 'Light' ones, the 'kind' ones, who've decided they have a right to protect the world from Darkness. Where were you when they drank my blood? Why can't I do that now?
Anton Gorodetsky: Because I won't let you.

Movie Connections:

Features "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Buffy vs. Dracula (#5.1)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

Moskovskie okna

Excellent movie about the struggle between light and darkness

A thousand years ago two forces met on the battle field, the warriors of light and the army of darkness. As the battle raged, the two forces proved to be exactly balanced, and so a decision was made maintain that balance and the two sides came to an agreement that neither side would breach. And to enforce the agreement two watches were formed: the Day Watch and the Night Watch. The Night Watch is composed of the forces of good who work keep the forces of evil from breaching the agreement and vice versa. The watches continue today... Warriors of virtue (some are shape changers, others have less definable talents) who fight against rogue vampires, witches, etc. Both sides are usually invisible to normal people unless they choose to be seen, except for a few "others" who can see and interact with the immortals. And therein lies the instability, because the "others" also have the potential to become immortals and they can go toward either side. Plus, there is a prophecy of a "Great One" who will shift the balance, plunging the world into an era of light or darkness.

Great action, good use of CGI and practical effects. Excellent soundtrack. It reminded me quite a bit of Jeunet's directional style (CITY OF LOST CHILDREN), but more than anything the movie reminded me of the recent Bollywood sci-fi actioner RUDRAKSCH.

This one is definitely recommended if you are tired of the same old Hollywood formula crap. Especially if you are a fan of Horror/Action with a dash of Sci-Fi.