The horrors of war have served as inspiration to horror stories almost since the beginning of horror as a literary genre; however, horror films with a War setting are really scarce. The main reason to this is that War films often demand a great investment in costumes, props and crew to get the setting right, becoming a big problem for horror directors often forced to work with low-budgets. However, in the last years, daring and inventive directors have taken the risk of making films with a War setting. Although the quality of the films varies, director Michael J. Bassett's film "Deathwatch" is among the best ones, making a thrilling and captivating horror story set in a deserted German trench in the middle of World War I.
After a brutal night of extensive combat in the trench fighting of the First World War, a British Infantry Company gets lost and is separated from their regiment. The next day, the nine surviving soldiers find an enormous German trench that strangely seems occupied by very few soldiers. The Company kills most of the Germans (except for one), and soon take the trench as a headquarters as they attempt to contact their regiment. However, they are not alone, as deep inside the decadent rotten trench there is an evil force that will attempt to consume them as paranoia, isolation and fear begins to corrode the British soldiers.
Written and directed by Michael J. Bassett, "Deathwatch" is a very ambitious horror film that successfully mixes the very real horrors of war with a classic tale of supernatural horror. With an amazing set design (for the budget) and well-done research on the subject, Bassett makes what's probably one of the most realistic representations of a World War I trench, that together with an overwhelming feeling of dread that is carried through the film, creates a terrific atmosphere that is the films strongest point. That's probably the best word to describe "Deathwatch": atmospheric.
The story is for the most part well-crafted as well, and stays in tone with the atmospheric visuals of the film. Playing on the feelings of paranoia and isolation that affect the main characters, the story really gets pretty interesting as the soldiers turn against each other and the death toll increases, however, the slow pace the film moves may turn off people expecting a fast packed action-horror film. While the movie does have some scares and a bit graphic gore, it is the atmosphere, the dread and the mystery what moves the film, so one must not expect a scare-fest in "Deathwatch".
The cast is mainly made of newcomers, and this becomes beneficial, as it adds to the realism of the movie. Jamie Bell of "Billy Elliot" fame, is our main character, Pfc. Charlie Shakespeare, and while he manages to carry the film for the most part, his performance would not be the same without the rest of the cast to support him. Hugh O'Conor gives a terrific performance that serves a nice counterpart to Bell, and the experienced Andy Serkis delivers one of his best (and less known) performances as well. Hugo Speer makes also a good job in a subtle low-key role, although more screen time would have really helped his character.
Certainly "Deathwatch" can be accused of many things, like for example, the fact that some of the supporting characters are clichéd stereotypes; however, it can't be accused of being a bad movie. The way the Company starts as a "collective hero" only to crumble down as the dead count increases is more a good thing than a flaw, and the film's lack of typical jump scares is also a virtue. Probably the way the film was marketed (as a straight-forward slasher) is the film's main problem, as it's really not a fast-packed mix of war and horror as some may expect.
While not a life changing film or the ultimate experience of horror, Michael J. Bassett's "Deathwatch" is a worthy film that truly deserved a better box-office that what it got, as it's a horror film done in a way that seems a rarity these days. Michael J. Bassett certainly shows a lot of talent and if this is the beginning, I can't wait to see what's next for him. 7/10
After a brutal night of extensive combat in the trench fighting of the First World War, a British Infantry Company gets lost and is separated from their regiment. The next day, the nine surviving soldiers find an enormous German trench that strangely seems occupied by very few soldiers. The Company kills most of the Germans (except for one), and soon take the trench as a headquarters as they attempt to contact their regiment. However, they are not alone, as deep inside the decadent rotten trench there is an evil force that will attempt to consume them as paranoia, isolation and fear begins to corrode the British soldiers.
Written and directed by Michael J. Bassett, "Deathwatch" is a very ambitious horror film that successfully mixes the very real horrors of war with a classic tale of supernatural horror. With an amazing set design (for the budget) and well-done research on the subject, Bassett makes what's probably one of the most realistic representations of a World War I trench, that together with an overwhelming feeling of dread that is carried through the film, creates a terrific atmosphere that is the films strongest point. That's probably the best word to describe "Deathwatch": atmospheric.
The story is for the most part well-crafted as well, and stays in tone with the atmospheric visuals of the film. Playing on the feelings of paranoia and isolation that affect the main characters, the story really gets pretty interesting as the soldiers turn against each other and the death toll increases, however, the slow pace the film moves may turn off people expecting a fast packed action-horror film. While the movie does have some scares and a bit graphic gore, it is the atmosphere, the dread and the mystery what moves the film, so one must not expect a scare-fest in "Deathwatch".
The cast is mainly made of newcomers, and this becomes beneficial, as it adds to the realism of the movie. Jamie Bell of "Billy Elliot" fame, is our main character, Pfc. Charlie Shakespeare, and while he manages to carry the film for the most part, his performance would not be the same without the rest of the cast to support him. Hugh O'Conor gives a terrific performance that serves a nice counterpart to Bell, and the experienced Andy Serkis delivers one of his best (and less known) performances as well. Hugo Speer makes also a good job in a subtle low-key role, although more screen time would have really helped his character.
Certainly "Deathwatch" can be accused of many things, like for example, the fact that some of the supporting characters are clichéd stereotypes; however, it can't be accused of being a bad movie. The way the Company starts as a "collective hero" only to crumble down as the dead count increases is more a good thing than a flaw, and the film's lack of typical jump scares is also a virtue. Probably the way the film was marketed (as a straight-forward slasher) is the film's main problem, as it's really not a fast-packed mix of war and horror as some may expect.
While not a life changing film or the ultimate experience of horror, Michael J. Bassett's "Deathwatch" is a worthy film that truly deserved a better box-office that what it got, as it's a horror film done in a way that seems a rarity these days. Michael J. Bassett certainly shows a lot of talent and if this is the beginning, I can't wait to see what's next for him. 7/10