Weekly Review -- Another dark city

Night Watch (2004) -- One of the biggest foreign hits of recent years, this film was hailed as a landmark in Russian cinema. Writer/director Timur Bekmambetov had created a new kind of fantasy epic, the likes of which the ex-communist country has never seen. To top off all the recommendations, it is the second highest-grossing film in Russian history. The film starts off with a bloody battle between, as we soon learn, the forces of light and forces of dark. Worn out by the losses, the enemies sign a truce which leads to forces of light becoming guardians of daytime and their counterparts being assigned to guard the night. In present day Moscow, the two sides are about to collide again in search of an Other who can possibly reverse the hierarchy, as well as a person who may be the key to recent troubles in the city... At first, the film seems disjointed. It throws us right into the story and it takes a while to figure out where the story is heading and just who the characters are supposed to be but, once the mythology is further explained, the film becomes really interesting. It is a unique combination of history and fairytales, borrowing in style from urban vampire films like Blade and spicing up the story with unexpected twists, clever action sequences and cool villains. Konstantin Khabensky provides appealing street smarts and vulnerability as Anton, one of the principal night watchmen. I also loved Galina Tyunina's turn; among other things and without spoiling anything, let us just say that her innocent, wide-eyed look fits her character. The cinematography is gorgeous and the effects pepper the proceedings, rather than overwhelm them. Two stand-out scenes are the ones on the subway and the electric plant, both flawlessly filmed. I would recommend Night Watch to anyone who would like to watch a different kind of vampire film, with the right mix of thrills and cult potential.

8/10