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Deathwatch

  • 2002
  • R
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
14K
YOUR RATING
Torben Liebrecht, Jamie Bell, Rúaidhrí Conroy, Laurence Fox, Dean Lennox Kelly, Kris Marshall, Hans Matheson, Hugh O'Conor, Matthew Rhys, Andy Serkis, and Hugo Speer in Deathwatch (2002)
Psychological DramaSupernatural HorrorDramaHorrorThrillerWar

In the middle of World War I, nine British soldiers caught behind enemy lines seek refuge in a complex network of German trenches. What they soon discover is that they aren't alone - and it ... Read allIn the middle of World War I, nine British soldiers caught behind enemy lines seek refuge in a complex network of German trenches. What they soon discover is that they aren't alone - and it isn't a German soldier that's hunting them down.In the middle of World War I, nine British soldiers caught behind enemy lines seek refuge in a complex network of German trenches. What they soon discover is that they aren't alone - and it isn't a German soldier that's hunting them down.

  • Director
    • MJ Bassett
  • Writer
    • MJ Bassett
  • Stars
    • Jamie Bell
    • Rúaidhrí Conroy
    • Mike Downey
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    14K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • MJ Bassett
    • Writer
      • MJ Bassett
    • Stars
      • Jamie Bell
      • Rúaidhrí Conroy
      • Mike Downey
    • 146User reviews
    • 25Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    Deathwatch
    Trailer 1:36
    Deathwatch

    Photos50

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    Top cast15

    Edit
    Jamie Bell
    Jamie Bell
    • Pfc. Charlie Shakespeare
    Rúaidhrí Conroy
    Rúaidhrí Conroy
    • Pvt. Colin Chevasse
    • (as Ruaidhri Conroy)
    Mike Downey
    • Martin Plummer
    Laurence Fox
    Laurence Fox
    • Capt. Bramwell Jennings
    Roman Horák
    Roman Horák
    • German soldier
    • (as Roman Horak)
    Dean Lennox Kelly
    Dean Lennox Kelly
    • Pvt. Willie McNess
    Torben Liebrecht
    Torben Liebrecht
    • Friedrich
    Kris Marshall
    Kris Marshall
    • Pvt. Barry Starinski
    Hans Matheson
    Hans Matheson
    • Pvt. Jack Hawkstone
    Hugh O'Conor
    Hugh O'Conor
    • Anthony Bradford
    Matthew Rhys
    Matthew Rhys
    • Cpl. Doc Fairweather
    Andy Serkis
    Andy Serkis
    • Pvt. Thomas Quinn
    Hugo Speer
    Hugo Speer
    • Sgt. David Tate
    Pavel Tesar
    • Mudman
    Trevor Bennett
    • Soldier
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • MJ Bassett
    • Writer
      • MJ Bassett
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews146

    5.913.8K
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    Featured reviews

    6ma-cortes

    Nice terror film upon a creepy confrontation in trenches during WWI

    The movie deals with an English soldiers group in First Great War ( 1914 to 1918 ).

    Perhaps it happens in Verdun , Tannenberg or Marne battle , the film is set on the trenches from one of them . At the squadron appears an evil which murders one by one the members of the team.

    It's an interesting movie , from the beginning until the end the frightening and scary action is unstoppable.

    The flick has an eerie atmosphere , it is in gaudy color , enhanced by the mud of trenches and with lights and shades that originates a ghostly setting .

    Set design is excellent , the movie is enough atmospheric , the dark sludge , the dirtiness and filthiness with the muddy trenches are very well designed .

    Runtime is adjusted , approx. one hundred minutes , but is a little bit boring because of it occurs limited adventures . However it is a lot exciting , amazing and entertaining.

    In the film there are suspense , horror, drama , tension , shootouts , frenetic action and a little bit of gore.

    Everybody actors are pretty well but specially there stands out Jamie Bell , Andy Serkis ( Gollun in The Lord of the rings ) , Hugo Speer and Mathew Rhys .

    The movie will appeal to the suspense , terror buffs and emotion lovers.

    Rating 6,5/10 . Good and well worth watching .
    6view_and_review

    Plot not on par with set design and performances

    The year is 1917 and a small band of British troops happen upon a German trench. Very few people are alive in this trench and it looks as if something wicked has gone on there. Eventually, the British troops find out that there is an evil presence in the trench, but will they be able to escape it?

    The set design and atmosphere in "Deathwatch" was primo. It was rainy, muddy, cold, and you can tell that the entire trench was a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. The actors put in strong performances which were on par with the set design. They exuded angst, desperation, confusion, and fear. The plot, however, wasn't as compelling as everything else. I almost feel like the set and the performances were wasted on this piece.
    6p-stepien

    Bogged down in the trenches

    During the I World War a group of English soldiers capture an enemy German dugout, while taking one of the opposing forces hostage. Surprisingly however the German wasn't even protecting the trench from outside forces with his focus set on something much closer. The soldiers (comprising amongst other of Jamie "Billy Elliott" Bell and Andy "Gollum" Serkis) quickly come to realise that evil has permeated the trench with barb-wired death around every corner. Madness and suspicion is released amongst the unit leaving in doubt anyone's survival...

    Masterfully acted from start to finish with some tremendous rain-drenched photography "Deathwatch" is a very promising experience showing the potential of the debutee director Michael J. Bassett. With a shoestring budget he manages to invoke realistic trenches and positionary warfare with the unseen enemy hiding amongst the mud, water and fog. Additionally we are serviced some quite brutal heart-stopping gore, which makes you double-check areas of your body to make sure you remain intact.

    Despite consistently conveying the dreary atmosphere the script however is unable to fulfil expectations, even though the open-ended unresolved-on-a-plate ending is a small triumph for the director. Nonetheless the whole movie is predictable and does not offer any freshness. Additionally the plot is severely underdeveloped and some key scenes seem missing or are just tremendously underplayed. Some of the direction tends to be a bit confusing - before the bodycount cuts down the number of soldiers it is hard to actually follow who is doing what or who is who for that matter. In the end it feels more like a well-done test-run created to prove a simple point: I know how to make movies. Essentially perfectly ordinary, but nonetheless sure to creep you out and hauntingly involve during the viewing pleasure.
    5ghoulieguru

    Worthwatch

    Another in the recent wave of War-Horror movies like Dog Soldiers and The Bunker, this one actually has a couple of stand out moments. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, but there are some interesting moments with barbed wire. The acting was good overall, with most of the actors showing some nice restraint. Typically, you give an actor a period military uniform, a gun, and some exclamation points in the dialogue and you have a recipe for disaster. Points go to the director for keeping a lid on the overly dramatic yelling and screaming. Still, the pacing can be a little tedious at times, and tends to get a little repetitious. Succeeds where The Bunker fell down in that it actually delivers some chills and delivers an ending that isn't too reminiscent of a Twilight Zone episode. 6 out of 10.
    8stormruston

    Atmospheric low budget horror.

    This was one heck of a good movie, I had read nothing about it and bought it based on the box artwork.

    This is a WW1 horror movie that takes place mostly in a set of "German trenches" This movie rarely nailed down the muck and horror of trench warfare in my mind. It is a creepy horrible looking place.

    The acting is very good and rarely over the top, and the movie maintains a sense of tension and controlled panic from beginning until the climax, where it goes into full panic and finally horrified understanding.

    The special effect are not too bad to pretty darn good,it has moments of gore too.

    This is a very worthwhile ghost story that should keep you on the edge of your seat, I recommend it as a top notch B movie.

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    Related interests

    Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
    Psychological Drama
    Daveigh Chase in The Ring (2002)
    Supernatural Horror
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (1968)
    Horror
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller
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    War

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Andy Serkis said in the audio commentary he has no idea what's going on in the film towards the third act.
    • Goofs
      In one scene it shows one of the soldiers finding and later talking on a radio. This could not be possible since radios for military field use that you could talk on did not exist until WW2. The primary mode of radio communication would be by CW (Morris Code) using a telegraph type key and not by picking up a handheld microphone. In 1917 radio transmitters were large and cumbersome to operate under field conditions especially in a trench where antennas were also needed to transmit and receive radio signals.
    • Quotes

      Sgt. David Tate: All right, boys lets get this trench secure.

      Pfc. Charlie Shakespeare: Sarge.

      Pvt. Thomas Quinn: Yes, sergeant.

      Pvt. Jack Hawkstone: Yes, sarge.

      Pvt. Barry Starinski: Fuckin' hell, sarge.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: What's the Worst That Could Happen?/Pearl Harbor/The Anniversary Party/Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures (2001)

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    FAQ18

    • How long is Deathwatch?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 6, 2002 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Germany
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • German
    • Also known as
      • La sombra del mal
    • Filming locations
      • Benesov, Czech Republic
    • Production companies
      • ApolloMedia Distribution
      • Bavaria Film
      • F.A.M.E. Film & Music Entertainment AG
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,270,658
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 34m(94 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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