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Deathwatch [DVD] [2002] | ![Deathwatch [DVD] [2002]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51N5EP3N12L._SL160_.jpg) | Director: Michael J. Bassett
Actors: Jamie Bell, Rúaidhrí Conroy, Mike Downey, Laurence Fox, Roman Horak
Studio: Pathe Distribution
Category: DVD
List Price: £17.99
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Rating:  29 reviews
Sales Rank: 10628
Format: PAL, Widescreen
Languages: English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired), English (Original Language), French (Original Language), German (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region: 2
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 95 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5060002831328
ASIN: B000096KJ9
Theatrical Release Date: 2002
Release Date: June 16, 2003
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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Amazon.co.uk Review
A small group of English soldiers find themselves in a labyrinth of abandoned German trenches in IDeathwatch/I, a reworking of the classic British supernatural horror tale as a redemptive allegory amid the wider horror of the Great War. The very earth has had its fill of blood and this lost company may already be in hell: imagine the BBC TV film IAll the Kings Men/I (1999) crossed with ICube/I (1997), as realised by a young Ridley Scott. Only Charlie Shakespeare, an impressive Jamie Bell, is sufficiently innocent to realise the evil of the trenches is turning comrade against comrade, resulting in the gradually escalating carnage. pDirector 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, IDog Soldiers/I (2002), IDeathwatch/I was shamefully overlooked in the cinemas but is surely a future cult classic just awaiting discovery. p BOn the DVD:/BIDeathwatch/I 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. --IGary S Dalkin/I
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 29
 Very good horror! March 21, 2004
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
As I write this, I have owned 'Deathwatch' for some time. At the moment, there seems to be a trend in re-doing old films, 'Texas Chainsaw Masacure', 'Cabin Fever', and 'Dawn Of The Dead' to name a few, luckily though, 'Deathwatch' is something new(ish).brNow, there may be some who think that 'Deathwatch' is nothing more than 'Event Horizon' World War 1 style in a trench; but while the two films are very good and similar, by the time 'Event Horizon' had finished you had worked out the story, but 'Deathwatch' offers no final resolution of the events, thereby keeping you guessing as to what actually happened.brThe story, set in WW1, concerns a squad containing 'Billy Elliot's' Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis who played 'Gollum' in brPeter Jackson's superb version of 'J.R.R. Tolkien's: Lord Of The Rings'and Kris Marshall, who now seems to be presuing a serious acting carier other than his part as the idiot-son 'Nick' in the brilliant 'My Family', during a night fight them become seperated from the rest of their company, eventually finding themselves at a German trench. After capturing one soldier, the British continue with their work only startled by the apparent fact that the Germans in the trench apparently turned on each other. Strange things begin to happen; blood gushes from walls, strange growls are heard from underground, and the platoon begin to get picked off one-by-one in nasty ways. As tensions mount, they interrogate the prisooner, who warns them to leave; there's something in the trench that's making them turn against each other, or "Something's wrong with this place" says Shakespeare, (Jamie Bell). Laurence Fox becomes the demented captain, leaving Hugo Speer to take charge as Sergeant Tate, unwilling to admit that there's somethign wrong with the trench. Andy Serkis does well as the brutal Private Quinn. As a surprise, Kris Marshall's character Sterinski says very little, but is still very well acted as are all the characters. A very good film, and the ending will leave you guessing at what happened.............
The horror of war or pure horror? November 13, 2003
John
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
Deathwatch is something of a rare breed. Drawing inspiration from Michael Mann's (ill fated) The Keep among some works of H.P Lovecraft, this movie tells the story of a group of desperate, fear-stricken men, triyng to survive both to an evil that they cannot see but that is surelly all arround them and to the savage industrial carnage of the Great War. During WW1, amidst the mud and blood of the Western Front, a squad of english soldiers gets lost from the rest of their comrades during a gas attack. Marching blindly throught a fog they end up finding an abandoned german forward trench. A nigthmare of rotting corpses everywhere, mud and rats, with labirintic corridors and alleys that end nowhere, the trench looks like it came straight from an Otto Dix painting. Establishing defensive positions, the soldiers wait vainly for reinforcements thinking that the germans will be their worst problem. They couldn't be more wrong. Deathwatch is not only visually astonishing for its perfect recreation of a overlooked setting, but manages to deliver a trully frightening atmosphere of dread and death like few movies can. Fear, like some hidden demon jumps at you and doens't let go of your throat until the end, sometimes not even after that (nightmares anyone?) If you saw the movie (spoilers ahead) in the end you don't know wether if it was real or just some sort of waking nightmare. J.M. Basset manages to pull of some really nice performances from the all-english cast mainly Jamie Bell(private Shakespeare) and Andy Serkis(private Quinn). A cult for horror buffs Deathwatch is problably one of the most frigthening experiences about surviving an unspeakble horror amidst a larger horror ever put on the screen.
...surprising...intelligent...a brilliant piece of film July 27, 2003
Claire Gleeson (TIPPERARY Ireland)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
It starts off with a very graphic war image and a young, shellshocked soldier finding it hard to cope ('Billy Elliot's Jamie Bell, but don't hold that against him). After a while a group of soldiers are seperated from the fighting. They come across an enemy trench... After this it is a bit slow to get started, but once it does it will have you at the edge of your seat.The ending is both surprising and satisfying, Good Luck guessing who or what is causing the disturbence, untill the director wants you to know, you won't... and oh yeah this is not one for the faint of heart.
 quite original, a rare treat! May 17, 2003
Eduardo Lino Costa (London United Kingdom)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
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.br 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.br 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.br 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.br 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. br 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.br 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.br 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.
Watch Deathwatch :) March 17, 2005
Aida Attwell (England, UK)
16 out of 18 found this review helpful
This film is about a supernatural evil but mainly about the evil in humankind. It's as if all the bloodshed and horror of the war has manifested itself into... hmm, I don't know how to explain it.pI really like Deathwatch. The beginning is slow-ish, but as the story goes on it's clear that the soldiers are getting into something far more dangerous than the fighting they had left behind...pThe only thing that let it down *IMHO* was the swearing throughout the film, I mean did they even have those swear words in those days? Anyway...brThere aren't any named horrors or CGI wossits to mention of, except for a rather nasty bit involving barbed wire.pJamie Bell (Billy Elliot) was superb in his role of Shakespeare, as were all the other actors. Especially that crazy dude (I've forgotten the actor's name) you could tell he enjoyed playing a real tough man.pI think the reason why people have given this film a poor rating is because it's meaning is hard to understand, and the ending is a little confusing. Though when you think about it becomes clearer, and what had happened to the men is... well I won't tell you that. You'll have to see it for yourself :Pp4 stars. Give it a chance, it really is a good film.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 29
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