Ivan

Yes! Yes! It happened! I knew you’d review something Russian. I expected the review of Viy of course, but thanks for mentioning it as well. It’s based on the same story by Nikolai Gogol, as Mario Bava’s Black Sunday BTW. And it’s the best (and basically the only) Soviet horror film.

Night Watch is not bad. Timur Bekmambetov BTW started his career at Corman and made some Hollywood films as well. To me he’s more a businessman rather than film director. And the star of the film Konstantin Habensky is of the biggest star of the Russian cinema for the past 20 plus years. Thanks for the review!

Hyswell Cool

Hi there

Nick

Man, oh man! In the 2000s Night Watch was the shit! – everyone discussed this movie (and the books it was based on) in Russia, and I even remember reading an article about it in the British Metal Hammer magazine. I was kinda sceptical at that time (I was, like, 17, so… yeah) but now I really enjoy this movie. It’s batshit insane, absurd and noisy – but in a good way))

Tom Fitzpatrick

I like the music you picked for your review of Night Watch, It is very mysterious & that is what it makes this episode

Ilya

Thank you James! Cheers from Russia!

Roman G

I honestly thought he was going to review Sputnik from 2020 since that was the only Russian horror film that I could think of prior to this review.

LazarheaD

Looks badass!

Zergos

It’s russian time!

Been waiting for this.

Glad you mentioned Viy, as it is sorta the only noteworthy Russian/Soviet example of a pure horror movie.

And night watch is fun, naturally. I remember when it first came out, it was an event. Everyone at my school were playing the theme song by “UmaThurman” (yes, that’s the name of the band), and many people were discussing it.

Thank you for this years Monster Madness! It’s nice seeing it return to its roots.

Max

I am not proud of this movie, I don’t consider it a horror movie, but it is nice to watch you review something russian.

Premier of this one was a big deal in Russia. One the the first blockbusters.

Soviet comedies are the best in the world, coz there are no ass jokes there. Horror – not the best)

Jonathan

I don’t know. Major Grom: Plague Doctor had some horror elements.

Morgan

It’s more like an urban fantasy. And the girl turns in to a tiger, cause she’s a shapeshifting mage.

The Gaming Paladin

wow, that story sounds like something that an MMO could be built around, taking place in modern times with a fantasy aspect and horror themes.

well played, Russia!

Mike M

This movie is decent enough but the novel series it’s based on is absolutely superb and 1000x better then the movie attempt. Any Cinemassacre fans who also like to read should pick them up. Written by a Kazakh guy named Sergei Lukyanenko and well translated, they’ll really blow you away!

General

Hi James, glad you did a review on a Russian horror movie. We don’t have many of them, but almost every one of them has a special atmosphere of gloom and some kind of abandonment and alienation, especially when the film is about modern times. There is something similar in Korean and Japanese horror films. I hope you’ll watch a few more and you’ll like them.

I’m glad that you mentioned the movie Viy, but probably it didn’t fit the review, because it was made not in Russia, but in the USSR.

Jason

I’m an 80s Horror fan but watched VIY for the first time recently. I just watched it this month on Shudder. Really enjoyed it and especially liked the atmosphere and effects.

Tom Bowman

currently streaming on Starz if you want to watch it again

DrZaius

What an interesting concept.
The characters wearing sunglasses look kinda goofy, though.

Jason

I love this movie!! I believe they have a remake also. But this is a awesome movie!! Thank you James and whoever else’s helped with making monster madness come back.

TheUltimateBohab

Man those Russian women! 10s and ones only… that movie looks awesome I’m going to find it!

WRZESZCZ

Yeah! Vij!

Rustam

“It’s a Action movie with horror elements” Duuuuh!
If you will make same county to country thing in next year (which i really liked) i’ll recommend to you some other russian horror movies (best of the worst, cause Russia sucks in full legnt horror genre). So, check out:
Sputnik (2020) (Available in Apple TV)
Zmeinyy istochnik (lit. Snake’s source) (1997)
Prikosnoveniye (lit. Touch) (1992)
Upyr (lit. Ghoul/Vampire) (1997)
Gospodin oformitel (lit. Mister Decorator) (1988)
Psy (lit. Dogs) (1989)

Sputnik

I remember watching this movie a long time ago, but I don’t remember it being as awesome as you described. I think I may have accidentally watched Day Watch before this, though.

Matt

Yes! Love these movies!

dustpan

James you have done a better job explaining Nightwatch than the description on the back of the DVD. The plot has vibes from a late ’80s Japanese cartoon mini-series known as ‘Legend of the Overfiend’ aka ‘Urotsukidoji.’

Christian

I LOVE this movie. I remember watching it at the theater when it came out and bein blown away by it. It was supposed to be a series of films but only 2 of them got made. I have them both on DVD and I even started reading the books. Wish more stories like this got made into film.

Wing Yung

“I wouldn’t call it a horror movie. Just an action movie with horror elements”

I thought you were supposed to be reviewing horror movies this October. 🤔

Good movie tho.

JayRam

Wow. I haven’t thought about this movie since I used to browse the aisles of Blockbuster.

Dave

Ka-zar Nicholas? Any relation to Kazam Shaq? 🙂

Vlad

MAN, I would actually LOVED to see a Viy review!

cninjy

Thank you for your kind words. But in reality it’s a mess made by a primarily music clip producer (a good one, nonetheless), based on a much, much better book.

Stave

“Kuhzar Nicholas”

GGfallin

Night watch is shit! Retarded Russians like it though.