Reviews

*Terrible spoilers ahead, I'm gonna give away the ending. This comment may only make sence when you've actually seen the movie*

Sure, most of this movie is pure and utter crap. But those who say this is the worst movie they ever saw, I think they didn't really get what's going on here. This is not the scariest US horror-movie of the last 10 years, as apperantly is claimed in the trailers (I never saw those). I think the people who made this film knew this wasn't so. This is all a spoof on the horror genre and I think this was how it was intended to be by the creators. Don't understand what I'm trying to say? Let me explain.

This movie follows every rule ever laid out for classic horrorfilms. Two young and attractive kids in a desolate location encounter an unknown force. They don't know what they are dealing with, but one things for sure: it's trying to kill them. Than (pay attention, this is important) someone they don't know seems to know them and knows all about the terror that is threatning them. In this case, the black psychic lady doesn't scream `youre doomed!!!', but she might as well have. So far: classic horror build up. Now normally, knowing that terror lies in their future, the heroes will try to change their destiny by facing the monster and defeating it. Because someone explained the danger to them, they find a way to defeat it. As the audience of this film, we are led to belief this is gonna happen here. Darry and Trish meet up with the psychic woman, she tells them more of the story and it seems like they now know enough to defeat The Creeper. So still: classic horror storyline. And than, just when you think stuff is gonna happen, this movie slaps you in the face! This films suddenly whipes it's ass with the horror-movie rules. The monster isn't defeated. The monster actually gets what it wanted and wins! The reason why most people are not satisfied by this ending, is because they aren't used to it. Freddy and Jason always got conquered in the end, some way or another. The Creeper doesn't. So the joke is on us, that's what makes the ending so surprising. And I think that's what the creators intended, to leave us bitchslapped in our seats. I've read lot's of comments of people saying this has sequal written all over it. If you've seen this film, try to think of what this ending really meens, write your own sequal in your head, so to speak. We've grown TOO accustemed to every single thing being explained. I hate that, I can think for myself.

Sure this isn't a really good movie (The actor playing Darry tries to look scared, but most of the time he looks like he's got a carrot up his bum) and there are too many loose ends. But it really doen't suck as much as people are saying here. I think it was intended to be trash and had a sudden surprise-ending that breaks with every single rule they so carefully followed throughout the film. Was Nighmare on Elmstreet really that good? Of course not! But did we like it! HELL YEAH! Sure, most of this movie is crap. But I still enjoyed it.

6 outta 10.

The main thing I liked about this movie was the atmosphere. Nicely demented, I must say, very sick in the head, but in an `evil-smile-on-my-face'-way. The violence and gore could have been a bit more graphic in my opinion, although there are a few scenes that would make an average moviefan's stomach turn six ways to Sunday. The house itself looks fantastic, not your average beautiful big Victorian haunted house, but a building that looks completely insane in it's own right. Outside it looks almost surreal, no man in his right mind would, or even could build a house like that. The mazes in the basement of the house have just the right eerie touch, anything could jump around any corner at any time. But unfortunatly, atmosphere does not make a movie great. The acting done here is not at all bad for a horror-flick (Holland's very own Famke portrais a fantastic total utter bitch again), but the story has a few untied ends that can't be denied. (WARNING: very mild spoiler) If someone says that (quote) 'The house changed the guestlist, by it's power', I would like to have a good explanation for that and not some 2 second chitchat about powerlines and the internet. (END OF SPOILER) The last 20 minutes or so rely to much on the basis 'haunted house'story and the plot is not very well rounded. I would have hoped for a more original twist at the end, because this ending relies to much on the FX-department, where the rest of the movie really doesn't. Atmosphere broken a bit at the end. But still, not bad at all. 7 outta 10.

(Oh yeah, don't forget to sit out the credits, because there's a real cool short scene at the end! Not to be missed!)

(SPOILERS, but hey, who cares, you don't want to watch this piece of crap anyway! Nothing much to 'spoil' there...)

Near the end of this film, I found myself watching the digital seconds on my VCR ticking away, instead of looking at the screen. Not that I was missing much, nothing was going on anyway. Here's a spoiler for ya: nothing even remotely exciting happens in this film!!!

Three words to some up one of the many reasons this movie doesn't make any sence: Dickie's...body...where????? Where did our little Tom hide a 6'3 body out in the open sea (don't tell me he dropped into the water, duh...) without it ever being found. Oh, the boat they are in is found, but the body isn't. Like, what, did he eat it? Now that would have added something to the story wouldn't it?

To sum things up: Definatly THE most boring film I saw this year. The only people who should watch this are those who have NEVER enjoyed a single movie in their entire lives. They sure as hell won't be disappointed in this one!

2 out of 10 (and I'm being generous here...)

(Some very very very very mild spoilers might be ahead)

Unlike most people who have commented on 'Nightwatch' here, I have actually seen the Original movie Nattevagten (made in 1994 by the same director). Nightwatch is a remake of this film in almost any sense of the word. Much like the recent Psycho-remake, the director simply tried to recreate his original film. In this perspective, McGregor was very well casted, because he looks a lot like the original Norwegian actor who played the role of Martin. A lot of scenes in the movie I might say almost all of them!) are exact copies of scenes in the original movie. It's almost scary, sometimes it even looks like they used the sets and props all over again. (Joyce's apartment, the 'bathtub room', Martin's little office, etc) This goes very much into every detail. The mysterious photograph in martin's office is THE SAME as in the original film. (Rumour goes it's an early picture of the director himself). Little things like that are all through this remake (the moths in the lamp, the flickering light in the hallway).

So did the crew succeed in making an exact copy of the original film? NO WAY! It might look the same, but this version lacks any form of tension. Everything that works so well in the original film just seems silly or stupid in this version. I still can't put my finger on it...I don't know what it is, it just doesn't work!

Even though the movies have more than one thing in common, there are also a lot of differences. For instance, the sick little game going on between Martin and his best friend isn't really worked into Nightwatch well. In Nattevagten, this goes much further. This 'game' is much more important in the original film. (Mind you, something I found rather strange, is the scene in the bar when the girls get harrassed. In Nightwatch, the two bullies are a black guy and a latino. In the original film however, both guys are WHITE! What's up with that???). Nattevagten ends with a real funny epilogue like wedding scene, totally cut out of Nightwatch.

Watching Nightwatch after you've seen Nattevagten is like watching your local high school's drama club perform Shakespeare. Sure, the words are right, the actors look the way they should, but it just doesn't work the way it was supposed to be. If you haven't seen Nightwatch, do yourself a favour: go rent the original movie Nattevagten!!! Sure, the weird Norwegian language takes a little getting used to, but you'll get into it eventually. If you have seen Nightwatch and hated it, go get Nattevagten as well. You won't be disappointed. If you have seen Nightwatch and LIKED IT, go rent NATTEVAGTEN NOW and be in for the movie experience of a lifetime!!!

I picked this up on tape, not expecting a whole lot of it, and for the first 20 minutes, I thought I was right. THe acting is REALLY lame in the beginning and the story doesn't seem to make any sence or progress in any way. However, the cast really seems to grow into the movie as the story unfolds. About halfway trough, I couldn't keep my eyes of the screen and I couldn't wait to see what this all would leed to.

(warning, mild spoiler ahead) There is some stuff to think about in here, but it's largely left to your own imagination. THe writers cut in a lot of psychological talk and a lot of conspiracy stuff. When you think about it longer, it doesn't make all to much sense and I think a lot of people think more behind the movie than there actually is. HOWEVER, in the movie it just works! And that's what makes this movie great! (apart form the first 20 minutes) everything works!

If you liked Existenz, you'll probably like this too. Don't watch if you're claustrophobic though! 8 outta 10!