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Amazon.co.uk Review
Director Michael J Bassett effectively wracks the tension, aided greatly by a wonderfully decayed set design and story, which may meander, but builds to a chillingly surreal finale. Bell is given strong support from Matthew Rhys and a psychotic Andy Serkis, while Bassett has a fine eye for lighting and composition, as well as the ability to deliver some horrifically effective set-pieces. Taking itself much more seriously than its comparable contemporary, Dog Soldiers (2002), Deathwatch was shamefully overlooked in the cinemas but is surely a future cult classic just awaiting discovery.
On the DVD:Deathwatch is presented anamorphically enhanced at 2.35-1, and bar some compression artifacting in a few scenes looks fine. Likewise the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is both atmospheric and powerful. The feature includes optional subtitles for hard of hearing. Extras begin with 15 minutes of interviews with six main cast members and Michael J Bassett. Also included are 14 minutes of filming footage and 16 minutes of alternate/extended/deleted scenes with text explanations as to why the material was changed or cut. There are three commentaries, with writer/director Bassett giving a serious account of realising his debut feature, then joining Jamie Bell and Lawrence Fox on a second commentary for more light hearted reflections. Finally Andy Serkis demonstrates his commitment to the project with an enjoyable reminiscence of his own. --Gary S Dalkin
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
quite original, a rare treat!,
By
This review is from: Deathwatch [DVD] [2002] (DVD)
I first heard about the premise for this movie during last years Frightfest, it intrigued me that someone was finally going to make a film about the great war, and use its intense setting to erect a horror film.As I heard it, Deathwatch was perceived as a zombie flick, hence my anticipation, ad I am a fan of the genre. However anyone who expects a zombie film out of Deathwatch have been misled, since the film is more of a psychological type of horror than the usual monster feature. Deathwatch is about a group of British soldiers who, after what seemed to be a gas attack, get stranded from the rest of their squad, and end up finding a seemingly abandoned trench.After securing the trench, they find out its an abandoned german trench, and orders are issued for them to protect the trench, at which point teh soldiers make themselves confourtable in it. I forget to mention that the trench is filled with dead bodies, and the tensions build as the soldiers aren't exactly sure how the previous woners got killed. Much of my use of the word 'seem' comes from the suspence and air of uncertainty and doubt, the film and its characters convey to the viewer. A very strong point of this film lies within its character development, you get a feeling of each one of the soldiers, from the young Charlie Sheakspear, played by Jamie Bell, whose acting seemd a perfect fit for the part. I was most impressed by tge acting of Andy Serkis (best known for bringing LOTR's Gollum to life) who Plays the Berserk private Quinn. All in all, the cast assembled here do a fantastic job in making teh viewer believe that they are burnt out soldiers, and as you begin to know each of them very well, the horror kicks off, and you are well prepared for it. As a big fan of the independent film 'Bunker-evil within', this follows on its footsteps and, though I heard some very bad reviews for it when it came out in the cinema, I am a big suportter of the fact that if a film falls within a genre that interests you, you should check it out no matter what the reviews are saying, so if you enjoy well acted original horror films, than definetelly check this one out.
32 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Deathwatch rips the horror genre apart!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Deathwatch [DVD] [2002] (DVD)
SO, a horror film set in the first world war, sounds interesting. Well once you get into battle and realise the true horrors of trench warfare in 1914 you can understand why this has been rated one of Britains best horror flicks for years. It twists and turns and leaves you guessing. The cast is made up of fully blown Brits who all have recogniseable faces. Mostly the lead, Jamie (Billy Elliot) Bell who gives a strong performance as Private Charlie Shakespeare in the movie. The movie looks totally real and believeable for a WW1 trench movie, the sets and the look of the movie is amazing. It is creepy and tense with a huge insight into real soliders in the war. You get a buzz out of this movie and if you like the typical horror movie or interested at all in the war you will love deathwatch. Performances are strong and storyline is pretty well driven. The question is what is around the next corner. A sniper, a monster or your own mind. A good watch which will keep you entertained, not a lot of boring battle sequences or slow motion shots. Nitty Gritty filmmaking. It looks raw and painful as it should do. Totally believeable and kept my attention, well worthy of a viewing, story kept me guessing, I cared for the characters and was a little spooked too. It is also an awesome DVD crammed with deleted scenes and commentary from actors and directors. Also some behind the scenes footage has been thrown on there. A great DVD for any experienced DVD buyers. A great one for the collection. Deathwatch, thumbs up!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
the fog clears (finally),
By A Customer
This review is from: Deathwatch [DVD] [2002] (DVD)
This film had one of those frustrating storylines. Basically these soldiers in ww1 had probably killed dozens of the enemy but seam reluctant to kill their own who have gone dangerously out of control. I kept thinking 'They've all got guns why don't they just shoot them'. There is an annoying scene where one chap wants to kill another so points a gun at him and then ends up choosing to fight him with a knife and subsequently loses.These people (with rifles) need to get about three feet away from the enemy before they can fire. Any normal person would not hesitate to pull the trigger if found in these circumstances. This is where the film is let down, unrealistic portrayal of supposedly hardened trench soldiers. Another reviewer suggests that the soldiers were not individual enough, this is absolutely true and is a shame because you could not care who lives or dies as you cannot remember who was who anyway! My final moan has to be this. What 16 year old infantry boy would be able to speak fluent French because he spent a few weeks with a French liason officer? Make the people realistic and you are half way to making a good film. I would like to say that this film is way better then the film of the same style 'The Bunker' which suffers badly from poor acting, and the cheep feel of the set. 'There are supposed to be miles & miles of tunnels down there' claims one young soldier. Someone should tell him they just filmed the same stretch of papier mache tunnel from different angles. 'Deathwatch' however has fantastic location setting, the mud, the gas, the fog all adds to the atmosphere and you can almost smell the stench of the rotten corpses that litter the ground. I would have given this three stars but the ending is trully inspiring and leaves the viewer feeling that the film is better then what it actually was. So I gave it 4. I would have given it 5 but for the lack of individualism in all of the characters and the fact that sometimes their behaviour was frustrating.
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