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Konstantin Khabensky, Vladimir Menshov, Valery Zolotukhin, Maria Poroshina, Galina Tyunina ... see more see more... , Viktor Verzhbitsky , Gosha Kytsenko , Aleksei Chadov , Zhanna Friske , Ilya Larutenko , Rimma Markova , Mariya Mironova , Dima Martynov , Alexei Maklakov , Anna Dubrovskaya , Nikolai Olyalin , Marina Ivanova , Alexandre Samoilenko , Konstantin Murzenko , Ilia Lagutenko , Anna Sliu , Sergei Prikhodko , Igor Savochkin , Yegor Dronov , Dmitry Klokov , Dmitry Osetrov , Anatoly Gorin , Liudmila Aronova , Alexander Shchurok , Nikolai Kiselev , Vitia Ivanov , Polina Shchurok , Tatiana Shchankina , Alexander Kozlov , Igor Pismenny , Victoria Smirnova , Sergei Kalashnikov , Ekaterina Malikova , Vladik Anufriyev , Yura Yakovlev , Vania Popov , Liesha Kurochkin , Yarik Romashenko , Mariya Poroshina , Valeri Zolotukhin , Yuri Kutsenko

Two bands of warriors, one good and one evil, battle to keep the peace in Moscow in this cat's cradle thriller from Russia. In 1342, the Warriors of Light (led by Gesser, Lord of Light) and the Warrio... read more read more...rs of Darkness (led by Zavulon, General of Darkness) declare a truce under which each side will form a law enforcement team to monitor the other side's activities. The Warriors of Light, who enforce the powers of good, patrol the Night Watch, while the Warriors of Darkness, who openly embrace evil, staff the Day Watch. Each watch group also contains "Others," mortals with supernatural powers from both sides that include vampires, shapeshifters, witches, and the like. Prophecy suggests that one day, a Great One will surface and permanently extinguish the threat of an apocalyptic war between the two sides by upsetting the balance, lending greater power to either good or evil (depending on his or her choice) and thus determining the future of mankind forever. In 1992, Night Watch member and Warrior of Light Anton Gordesky (Konstantin Khabensky) discovers he's an "other" amid a sting on a witch. Cut to twelve years later. In 2004, Anton still works the Night Watch, but now he's a vampiric warrior who drinks blood. One night, while on patrol, he rescues a young boy named Egor (Dima Martinov) from a handful of Dark Warriors, but in the process, he encounters Svetlana (Maria Poroshina), a woman who acts as a "funnel" -- a conduit for the powers of evil. Anton reflects on the prophecy regarding "The Great One," and begins to suspect that Svetlana and Egor may be harbingers of this fateful event. As the first installment in a Russian trilogy, Night Watch (aka Nochnoj Dozor) was a massive box-office success in its native Russia, and is followed by the second installment, Day Watch; it was released in the U.S. with a heavy prologue and epilogue, and animated subtitles that alternately scuttle across the screen, dissolve, shudder, and explode.20th Century Fox not only purchased United States distribution rights for the film, but also announced plans for a Westernized remake. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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69% liked it

100,149 ratings

Critics

58% liked it

125 critics

R, 1 hr. 56 min.

Directed by: Timur Bekmambetov

Release Date: February 17, 2006

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DVD Release Date: June 20, 2006

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Stats: 5,296 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (5,296)

  • garyX
    February 8, 2011
    garyX
    There was a lot of hype surrounding this, Russia's take on the vampire myth in which the forces of light and darkness are policed by a group of shape shifting "others" in modern day Moscow. I must admit I was expecting a lot from this film but was rather disappointed. The plot is... read more rather cliched and too easily resolved, with very predictable twists; in fact the so-called ending seemed like yet another film setting itself up as a franchise rather than presenting a credible self-contained story. There isn't that much in the way of action, and what there is is not particularly well handled as the director throws in far too many needless The Fast And The Furious style visual gimmicks; horror fans will also feel unsatisfied as there isn't much in the way of gore or frights either. Add to this the rather naff industrial-goth soundtrack and references to videogames and Buffy The Vampire Slayer and it all feels a little juvenile. It does have some nice sequences and it never bored me, but by the end I couldn't help wondering what all the fuss had been about. Constantine did something very similar and did it a lot better.
  • jlewis07
    October 4, 2010
    jlewis07
    Incoherent, messy, rushed, and more than a little cheesy, but nonetheless has its visual thrills and inventiveness to compensate for all of its flaws, at least most of the time. The story is the part that's cheesy, pitting light and against dark in a modern day setting with vampi... read morere's and humans called "others". The different is if you choose the light or dark side. Light others are called night watchers because they make sure the dark ones do not break the peace treaty among the two, while dark ones are called day watchers and do the same thing for the light others. It's an interesting take on the old light vs. dark, but the movie doesn't know when to take interest in certain subplots and when to not. Many subplots lead to quick and unsatisfying ending, and the finale is incredibly anti-climactic. It does have a few twists I didn't see coming though, and the movie is never boring. It's frustrating and fascinating in almost equal measure.
  • ythelastman89
    August 29, 2010
    ythelastman89
    Such a weird movie and almost incomprehensible at times, but that's kind've why it gets good after a while. The comedy is just sort of odd and everyone acts really animated and lively, it seemed like there was a style emerging. I think this movie is just so bloated and out of con... read moretrol that there was no way to make it easy for someone to grasp. There's a lot of mythology and prior knowledge that seems to be necessary before watching.
  • webalina
    August 2, 2010
    webalina
    A Russian modern-day vampire film, very stylized and similar to Blade. There was a war between two sets of vampires centuries ago, and they made a truce with each other. Now in modern day Moscow, these two groups monitor each other for adherence to the truce. That's the general s... read moretory. There is also a specific story about Anton, who is an "Other".

    This film had its moments, but I guess I'm a traditional vampire kinda girl. Plus, this got confusing towards the end of who was what and what they were doing. And who knew that a film about vampires could turn into a support message for the Pro-Life cause.
  • 3niR
    June 8, 2010
    3niR
    Lame. I only the soul transferring part.
  • ScoopOnline
    December 19, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    It began so promising then turned in to sort of Home Made Movies which we see on YouTube. lol
    Honestly this Movie was Joke for a Horror/Fantasy Movie. I heard there was a sequel too.
  • matertenebraum
    November 9, 2009
    matertenebraum
    After reading reviews about this movie I expected something a bit special and in some ways it is. But if this was a stand alone film I would have been less enthusiastic. It isn't of course, and the film has some great new film techniques that I've never seen before, a rocking sou... read morendtrack to go with the action scenes, and very different but excellent special effects. The intriguing concepts between good and evil is what the story touches on mostly, think vampires think sorcery think Russia. The film does leave you wanting more, and it definitely could shape up to be one hell of a trilogy.

    So see this movie with faith that they are building this series with a huge finale in mind.

    If you are left a little confused like I was, do not worry as the second film will reveal much more.
  • SirPant
    September 30, 2009
    SirPant
    Confusing in places and what with fast editing, wobbly camera and everything turning into either a bird, a fly of a spider, it was style over content. It was ok and I look forward to watching Day Watch, I just hope there is more story development this time!
  • fernandorafael
    April 7, 2009
    fernandorafael
    As with WANTED, his English language debut, "Nochnoi Dozor" is proof that Timur Bekmambetov is, most of all, a unique director. NIGHT WATCH may not be a masterpiece or really entertaining (at least not for someone who's not a fan of horror/fantasy, like me), but it's certainly c... read morereative and a visual achievement.

    NIGHT WATCH makes up for a long, dragging story with inventive visuals and impressive effects.
  • DerekA101
    December 1, 2008
    DerekA101
    "For it is easier to kill the Light within oneself, than to scatter the Darkness around..."

    Imported from Russia, Night Watch is the first big budget fantasy film since the collapse of the Soviet film industry. Hell, it even grossed more than The Lord of the R

    ... read moreings (in it's home country of course).

    This film is directed by visionary Timur Bekmambetov (he also recently directed the visually astounding Wanted). In Moscow, an ancient truce between Good and Evil is monitored daily by both sides - the Good being the Night Watchers, and the Evil being the Day Watchers.

    With Night Watch Bekmambetov crafts a slick and engaging world. The graphics and cinematography are top notch, even to Hollywood standards. In American terms, Night Watch is a perfect blend of The Matrix and Underworld. The opening battle scene mirrors the visual excellence of The Lord of the Rings.

    However, with so much attention and detail rendered to the outstanding visual effects, it feels that at times the plot was ignored. It's easy for one to get swept up in the fantasy, but this film seemed to do too much. There were several different story lines that didn't flow well together. The story surrounding the young kid was tense and filled with mystery and intrigue. But the other story line following the mysterious cursed blonde woman was anti-climatic and essentially pointless. The film would have been better served if Timur would've elaborated more on the former story and completely discarded the latter.

    Night Watch is a Russian film, so the English voice overs were frequently off key and annoying.

    This film is a breathtaking cinematic experience that can be enjoyed by all. Bekmambetov creates a surreal world of mystical vampires and shape-shifters that is utterly captivating. This is a crowning achievement for the Russian film industry.

    I hear the sequel, Day Watch, is even better... I can't wait to see it!

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Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum
October 20, 2009
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

The punchy, nonstop visual effects crowd out coherent storytelling. Full Review

David Edelstein
July 7, 2007
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

For a good hour and change, the film is a big toy box that teases you out of the Gloom. Full Review

Roger Moore
March 3, 2006
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

It has a refreshing Old World take on a never-ending fantasy war between vampires and the forces of 'light.' Full Review

Amy Biancolli
March 3, 2006
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

What a rabid beast is Night Watch. What a pungent Russian fantasy-horror cheeseathon. Full Review

Robert Denerstein
March 3, 2006
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

This mostly incoherent, enormously eccentric helping of mayhem breaks into so many fragments that watching the movie can be a bit like trying to assemble the pieces from several jigsaw puzzles.

Michael Booth
March 3, 2006
Michael Booth, Denver Post

Night Watch was one of the most popular movies ever released in Russia. That just proves there's no accounting for taste, in film or in human sacrifice. Full Review

Colin Covert
March 2, 2006
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Goth thrill-junkies will probably get a giddy charge out of this overheated fantasy. The rest of us can have an equivalent experience by putting our brains in a blender and hitting puree.

Bob Longino
March 2, 2006
Bob Longino, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Clarity may be lost, but rare is the movie that grabs viewers by their throats and never lets go. Bekmambetov's Night Watch is one of the grabbers. Full Review

Kerry Lengel
March 2, 2006
Kerry Lengel, Arizona Republic

The faux mythology may be cheesy, the grandiose plot stretched thin and full of holes, but underneath the recycled story and style is a hint of something troubling and real. Full Review

Michael Wilmington
February 25, 2006
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

Even though you couldn't call it a great science fiction movie, on the level of Tarkovsky's Solaris and Stalker it's often a great, heart-pumping, blow-you- to-the walls movie experience. Full Review

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  • what is the english name of the russian film 'nochnoi dozor'?  Answer »
  • Night Watch (Nochnoi Dozor) was based on a book by which author?  Answer »
  • It is " all that stands between light and darkness" Name the 2006 movie based on a novel by Sergei Lukyanenko  Answer »
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