Nightwatch: Demons are Forever (2024)

Streaming Service: Shudder 
Movie Name/Year: Nightwatch: Demons are Forever (2024)
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Length: 113 mins
Rating: Not Rated
Director: Ole Bornedal
Writer: Ole Bornedal
Actors: Fanny Leander Bornedal, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Kim Bodnia, Sonja Richter, Ulf Pilgaard, Casper Kjær Jensen, Paprika Steen, Nina Rask, Alex Høgh Andersen, Sonny Lindberg, Niels Anders Thorn, Tina Gylling, Casper Phillipson, Vibeke Hastrup, Christopher Læssø
 
Blurb from Shudder: 22-year-old medical student Emma (Fanny Leander Bornedal) has just taken a job as the night watch in the same forensic department where her parents were once almost killed by the famed psychopathic police inspector Wörmer. The events led to her mother’s suicide, and her father Martin (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) has turned to tranquilizers to suppress the memories. Determined to investigate what exactly happened to them, Emma tracks down and confronts Wörmer, only to unintentionally reawaken his bloodthirst and ignite a violent revenge on everyone who sealed his destiny years ago.
 

Cat’s Point of View:

Holy shit.

I just finished watching Nightwatch (1994) and its brand new direct sequel Nightwatch: Demons are Forever back to back, and those were the two words that pretty much sum up what I'm feeling at the moment.

Let's rewind a second.

When Nightwatch: Demons are Forever came to our attention, Selina and I first thought that it was another sequel in the Russian fantasy-horror franchise which includes Night Watch (2004) and Day Watch (2006). We were far off the mark, however. This new movie is a sequel to a Danish horror-thriller led by a very young Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Headhunters, Gods of Egypt, God is a Bullet) long before Game of Thrones (2011-2019) became a household name, and the first books of that series were only just barely out in print.

When Shudder offered us a chance to view the original as well as screen the new film, we jumped at the chance, even though this wasn't the familiar storyline we had originally anticipated.

I was riveted to the screen for the entirety of Nightwatch and was left with an unsettled feeling as the credits rolled. Nightwatch: Demons are Forever picked up with a large time jump from the first movie's ending and explored a “where are they now” perspective regarding the people impacted by events in Nightwatch. The key cast members from the 1994 film also reprised their roles within Nightwatch: Demons are Forever. That definitely helped maintain continuity and a seemingly seamless streamlining to the story.

Nightwatch: Demons are Forever just kept riding on that wave of dread and suspense that built in the first film. I was uncomfortable watching, almost. I lost count of how many times I gasped 'oh no.'

The good news, however, is that this sequel was set up to have just enough explanation within it that you generally wouldn't have to have seen the 1994 original to understand what is going on. It does help keep up the level of tension and chills if you start out familiar with the first film.

Nightwatch: Demons are Forever was a solid sequel full of twistiness and psychological horror just as much as it was suspesne and blood-splatter. Both films are in Danish with subtitles. If that isn't something that bothers you, I would definitely say that they're worth a watch.

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 68%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – None
Metascore – 49%
Metacritic User Score – None
IMDB Score – 6.1/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 4.5/5
 
Movie Trailer: