Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever

First Nightwatch was released in 1994 and a sequel was announced in 2022. I was surprised to hear that news because usually, it does not take that long for a horror movie sequel to arrive. Well now the year is 2024 and I could finally watch Nightwatch 2. I can tell you the atmosphere is not as eerie and scary as in the first movie. However, this does not mean that this movie is not worth watching but it is worth it. This movie is based on revenge and it is a rematch. I loved the duo of Bodnia and Waldau in the first movie and again we have the duo in the second. I liked the ending of this movie and I advise everyone to watch the first movie before watching this to remember the details. I give 8 over 10! Good job Mr. Bornedal!

I watched the original Night Watch immediately prior to watching this sequel. I had not seen the original for many years so it was a good refresher. However, it was bad for the sequel as it is nowhere near as good. At best, its a mediocre serial killer movie. And as i said, its worst crime was murdering the original. Lets go back to the end of the original, we have Lotte and Jens getting married. Martin and Kalinka were the best man and maid of honor with their relationship being stronger after their near murder. A well earned happy ending to a great horror movie. Well within 5 minutes of this sequel starting, we find out Martin is a pill popping wrecked loser. Kalinka hung herself 15 years ago and was a bad mother. Jens left Lotte and ran to Thailand to take drugs and sleep around. Lotte fares the best as she is still a Vicar but I guess she lost her husband. Wow, i can never look at the original again and think that was a happy ending as all the characters will have horrible lives. There were member berries but at what cost. I realize their would be some trauma but come on and 30 years later. Back to the movie itself. I guessed the main killer in their first scene due to some ridiculous dialogue that made no sense unless they were a bad person. Characters do all sorts of stupid things that real people wouldnt do. To boot, Lotte and Jens die in this one to further murder the original. There were ways to do a sequel without crapping all over the original. Finally, Movie was sort of a slog to get through and was not very memorable. It also lacked the scariness and creepiness of the original. I do not recommend anyways but I definitely would not if you want to keep your good memories of the original.

Previous reviews I've read had very mixed reactions to this movie and I had the idea that most people thought it was bad. I honestly thought it was a very good follow up of the first movie. Also felt good to see the original cast, but of course older. Great acting and funny characters. It did have some cringe moments where they used some odd language that didn't feel like it had a place in the movie. Also the ending was very sudden, after everything had went down they just seem to live "happily ever after". Otherwise very entertaining with a lot of suspense and a plot twist. I enjoyed it a lot.

A 30 year later sequel is a strange thing, but probably what's even more strange is that it took 30 years at all considering how successful the original was. I didn't even have to check if 'Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever' was made by the same writer/director as the original. I could tell by the chaotic structuring that both films possess. If you enjoyed the original then I'm sure you can at least find some enjoyment in this film. Again, just like the first, for the first 40-50 minutes of the film I really had no idea where it was headed or what it was even about. Then out of nowhere, just like the first, it straightens the wheel and puts itself on course for a pretty entertaining and well done final hour or so. Most of the original cast are back, which is a great effort all this time later. Considering the success Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has had in the meantime I'm a little surprised they were able to entice him, particularly considering they made his character a shell of his former self. There is one scene where he interrupts his daughter at the school that really should've been left on the cutting room floor. In a lot of ways this is going to come across as a strange sequel. But considering how much later it is and that they were able to work the entire original cast into and still make a somewhat creepy and coherent story out of it, I think it is an impressive effort. 7/10.