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Deathwatch
2002
Ciki and Nino, a Bosnian and a Serb, are soldiers stranded in No Man's Land - a trench between enemy lines during the Bosnian war. They have no one to trust, no way to escape without getting shot, and a fellow soldier is lying on the trench floor with a spring-loaded bomb set to explode beneath him if he moves. The absurdity of .. Read more
| Starring | Jamie Bell, Hugo Speer, Matthew Rhys, Andy Serkis |
|---|---|
| Director | Michael J. Bassett |
| Genres | Thriller |
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Deathwatch
Ciki and Nino, a Bosnian and a Serb, are soldiers stranded in No Man's Land - a trench between enemy lines during the Bosnian war. They have no one to trust, no way to escape without getting shot, and a fellow soldier is lying on the trench floor with a spring-loaded bomb set to explode beneath him if he moves. The absurdity of their situation would be comical if it didn't have such dire consequences. With the two men stuck in a bizarre predicament, a frustrated UN sergeant tries to help, despite orders to remain at his post. When a journalist waylays the sergeant while pushing for an exclusive scoop, she affects the unfolding of events and turns a news story into an international circus. With the world's press waiting for an outcome, no one willing to take action (lest they accept responsibility). Ciki and Nino try to keep their humanity amidst the insanity of war.
| Starring | Jamie Bell, Hugo Speer, Matthew Rhys, Andy Serkis, Dean Lennox |
|---|---|
| Director | Michael J. Bassett |
| Studio | PATHE DISTRIBUTION |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 35 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Thriller |
| Language | English |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Released | DVD: 16 Jun 2003 Production year: 2002 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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If war is hell, this combat-themed chiller from debutant writer/director Michael J Bassett isn't much better. Billy Elliot's Jamie Bell plays the youngest recruit of a First World War platoon that's lost deep in enemy territory, but takes refuge in an uncharted trench where the men are systematically picked off by a seemingly supernatural assassin. There's little to set the pulse racing, apart from some ghostly noises and a few gory effects, and Bassett's lumbering direction blasts any artistry, horror or suspense clean out of the target area. It also doesn't help that you can't work out who's doing what to whom, as the uniformed actors are covered from head to foot in mud in the murky, smoke-filled trench. Frankly, it's all tedious on the western front in this bum-numbing bore.
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The haunted house structure - unseen forces and trapped folk picked off in baroque ways - is transposed to a trench on... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful member's review
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8 out of 8 people found this review helpful
Evil presence in WW1 trench
Soldiers in the Great War get lost in mustard gas and find themselves in a German trench. They display aggressive behaviour and it's not clear whether it's the effect of the war or something in the trench.
Jamie Bell's character speaks out and although at first he appears to be the weakest character has the strength to fight the aggressors.
With all the horror films there have been, this one still has the power to surprise and shock. I was glued to the screen from the titles to the special features which shows the making of the film and interviews with cast and crew.
All in all a great experience. Watch and enjoy. -
Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Just another horror movie...
This is a not a war film but a horror movie set in a war. It has some scaring moments but confusing at times. The set are quite impressive (darkness, mud, rats, rain, cold)with our heroes facing death and fear everywhere. Mystery, ghosts and hatred help to give to it some frightening moments but not enough to make this film a classic hammer horror. Jamie Bell (The amazing talented boy from Billy Elliot) have been violently wasted here.
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Deathwatch
Ciki and Nino, a Bosnian and a Serb, are soldiers stranded in No Man's Land - a trench between enemy lines during the Bosnian war. They have no one to trust, no way to escape without getting shot, and a fellow soldier is lying on the trench floor with a spring-loaded bomb set to explode beneath him ...
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