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Nightwatch

Play trailer Poster for Nightwatch R 1998 1h 41m Horror Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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27% Tomatometer 30 Reviews 46% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Law student Martin Bells (Ewan McGregor) needs to make some money, and so he takes a side job as a night watchman in a morgue. He thinks he'll have time to study, but with a serial killer on the loose -- one with a propensity for necrophilia -- he has to be more alert than ever. While at work, Martin starts putting together the clues and realizes that the police, including Inspector Thomas Cray (Nick Nolte), have good reason to make him their prime suspect.
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Nightwatch

Nightwatch

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Critics Consensus

Nightwatch loses much of what made its inspiration entertaining - and proves that when remaking a foreign film, hiring the original director is no guarantee of success.

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Critics Reviews

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Sheila Johnston Independent (UK) 12/03/2018
A nifty little psycho-thriller from Denmark. Go to Full Review Mike Clark USA Today 01/09/2018
1.5/4
The much-delayed thriller Nightwatch, a remake of a Danish film, has been collecting dust. The reason is apparent: It's dreadful, Go to Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 01/01/2000
2/4
It's a visually effective and often scary film to watch, but the story is so leaky that we finally just give up: Scene after scene exists only to toy with us and prop up the impossible plot. Go to Full Review Carolyn Hinds Black Girl Nerds 08/05/2021
Even though the murders were the main driving force of the plot, the lack of a clear motive or pulse pounding tension makes Nightwatch come across as a parody like Scary Movie rather than a classic like Scream. Go to Full Review Quentin Curtis Independent on Sunday 12/03/2018
Though laboured in its exposition, and at times sadistic, the movie paints a luridly disturbing portrait of male aggression. And the dialogue contains odd shafts of insight. Go to Full Review Film Threat 12/06/2005
2.5/5
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Audience Reviews

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Judson E 01/26/2025 This is an underrated movie. I love the setting, i think it has a lot more potential but the creepy setting and a lot of cameos from great character actors makes this movie an enjoyable watch. The score is pretty good along with cinematography, and acting is great. It isn't a great movie by any stretch but it will stick with you because of the eerie morgue setting and a lot of weird moments that make you think. It is definitely worth a watch at least once. See more Weston L 01/12/2025 This was one of the most irritating slogs of a movie I've ever seen. Josh Brolin had some cool moments but nothing worth watching as it made a 90 minute movie feel like a eight season soap opera of wannabe horror. Can't call it a thriller as there is nothing thrilling about it. See more Justin T 04/21/2024 This film had lots of close-ups shots which I liked, which made it feel more intimate. Lovely camera movement and fantastic locations. It had a slight ‘modern’ noir look which was really nice. It has excellent sound design throughout. Almost nothing to even slightly complain about from the audio department. The story started so scary and horrible but slowly became an interesting murder mystery. The killer was revealed a little too early and this made the ending less exciting than it should be. I wish that there was more supernatural horror. Still enjoyable enough noir crime thriller. See more KB B @Okbullard 10/22/2023 It wasn't that good. I wouldn't bother with this one. See more Farah R @Farah 10/13/2023 Nightwatch proves that an intriguing plot and good actors can't save a film from its lousy writing. See more Steve D 09/20/2023 Effectively creepy but not much else. See more Read all reviews
Nightwatch

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Cast & Crew

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Ole Bornedal

Director

Ewan McGregor

Martin Bells

Nick Nolte

Inspector Thomas Cray

Josh Brolin

James Gallman

Patricia Arquette

Katherine

Alix Koromzay

Joyce

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Nightwatch

Nightwatch (1998) Nightwatch (1998) Nightwatch (1998) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Law student Martin Bells (Ewan McGregor) needs to make some money, and so he takes a side job as a night watchman in a morgue. He thinks he'll have time to study, but with a serial killer on the loose -- one with a propensity for necrophilia -- he has to be more alert than ever. While at work, Martin starts putting together the clues and realizes that the police, including Inspector Thomas Cray (Nick Nolte), have good reason to make him their prime suspect.
Director
Ole Bornedal
Producer
Michael Obel
Screenwriter
Ole Bornedal, Steven Soderbergh
Distributor
Miramax Films
Production Co
Dimension Films
Rating
R
Genre
Horror, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 17, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 14, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.2M
Runtime
1h 41m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Digital
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