Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever is a 2023 mystery horror film in which a medical student investigates her traumatic family history and the serial killer who nearly murdered them.
Written and directed by Ole Bornedal (The Possession 2012; Nightwatch US remake, 1997; Nightwatch, 1994).
The Danish Nordisk Film production stars Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Kim Bodnia and Fanny Leander Bornedal
Plot:
Nearly thirty years after the traumatic events that occurred in Nightwatch, courageous medical student Emma works as a night watchwoman at the forensic institute. The job pays well. Secretly, however, she hopes to find out more about her troubled family history. It was here that her parents once just barely escaped the serial killer Wörmer, a trauma that they never got over.
There are plenty of gruesome details circulating at the institute about the crimes committed in the morgue. However, the most explosive discovery is that Wörmer is not dead, as Emma assumed. Moreover, he is living in an asylum nearby. This awakens in the young woman the obsessive idea of meeting the perverse murderer who scalps his victims. At the same time, the neighbourhood is once again shaken by a series of mysterious deaths.
Reviews:
“Occasionally there are indications that this film could’ve been more of a cultural dialogue between generations and had a little bit more to say, but it stops just short of fully carrying out that idea. Rather, Bornedal has followed a relatively fool-proof legacy sequel formula in order to deliver a modern update on the original film by way of a nostalgic sequel about generational trauma, but also the new generation’s attempt to confront the past and extinguish its harmful flame.” 6.7 out of 10, I’m Jeffrey Rex
” …there were a multitude of elements that didn’t work for me; although we get a lot of neat callbacks and a few intense moments, the new movie wasn’t as scary as the first one, a lot of the characters felt more like caricatures (especially the new ones), and I guessed the big plot twist too soon to be taken completely out of the whole movie watching experience.” 7 out of 10, RThyrring
“The performances are great all around, but it doesn’t do anything new in terms of the genre. To be honest, I personally didn’t like the ending, as I felt it lacked a sense of place as a lot of the problems the movie explored through its runtime, is resolved with a cliche ending. It’s a good enough movie, even if it doesn’t justify its existence because of the sense of conclusion we got in the original.” 6 out of 10, Seb_3
” …though I applied myself, I did not deduce the identity of the murderer. This has amazing cinematography and editing, which truly do hold you in a vice grip in the scariest scenes. Movies like this can get a significant boost out of credible characterization. Maria feels like a real person; she is not confined by stereotypical femininity. The acting and the chemistry are all convincing.” 7 out of 10, TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews
Trailer:
Release:
Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever will stream on Shudder on May 17, 2024.
Original Title:
Nattevagten: Dæmoner Går I Arv
Filming locations:
Aarhus Amtssygehus, Aarhus, Denmark (hospital, psychiatric hospital, forensic institute
Nivå Kirke, Nivå, Denmark (church)
Parken, Østerbro, Copenhagen, Denmark (stadium)
