Too many twists and turns undermine this occasionally disturbing sequel
The 1994 movie Nightwatch was a taut exercise in terror about a young student named Martin (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) who came face to face with a serial killer named Wörmer after taking up a nightwatch position at the local morgue.
Ole Berndal, the director of Nightwatch, is responsible for the sequel, which takes place almost 30 years later. Martin now has a daughter, Emma (Fanny Leander Bornedal), a medical student who decides to take on the same position of night watch in the building Martin previously worked in.
It’s not uncommon for children to follow in their father’s footsteps but Emma’s decision to work at the morgue where her father was almost killed seems to be an unusual one. However, it’s all part of her goal to learn more about her father, who is now a shell of a man after his run-in with the psychopathic Wörmer. Adding to Martin’s trauma is the death of his wife who killed herself to escape the memory of her own encounter with the serial killer.
After taking up her new nighttime position, Emma discovers Wörmer is still alive and being held at a psychiatric hospital. She gains access to his cell using a fake identity and confronts the man who is now blind and in a coma. She also films her encounter to evidence to her father that Wörmer is no longer a threat. But in the process, she inadvertently pulls him out of his coma, with fatal consequences!
Berndal ably ratchets up the tension throughout the first half of the movie. Emma’s confrontation with Wörmer is particularly suspenseful when they come face-to-face with one another in his cell. The scene is reminiscent of the moment Agent Starling (Jodie Foster) met with Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) in The Silence of the Lambs, although Wörmer is more interested in scalping his victims than serving them up for dinner.
Wörmer isn’t the only psychopath in the film. We also meet an unhinged young man named Bent (Casper Kjær Jensen) who, in the opening scene, violently smashes his head against a glass window. Following this act of self-abuse, he is taken to the same hospital where Wörmer resides. We then see him make a mask of Wörmer’s face, which later becomes the source of terror for those who end up becoming victims of murder.
The killings in the film are very well done. They’re suitably shocking although not overly gory. As viewers, we are kept on the edge of our seats, as we know Emma and Martin are next on the killer’s hit list. The reason why they’re targeted is one we won’t reveal here, but you won’t be surprised to know that Martin’s past run-in with Wörmer has something to do with it.
Unfortunately, the film becomes less suspenseful during the second half due to an abundance of twists and turns that are more exhausting than surprising. Red herrings abound as the plot progresses and Emma gets closer to the person(s) responsible for the recent murders.
Of course, you’re probably assuming Wörmer and Bent are the movie’s killers if you haven’t yet seen the movie. But while they are certainly caught up in the tangled web that Berndal weaves, there’s more to the murder spree than meets the eye. That being said, you don’t need to be an Agatha Christie aficionado to work out what might be going on.
Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever isn’t a bad movie but it’s not as scary as it could have been. A strong first half leads to a predictable and disappointing second but the excellent performances of the cast and the ominous tone the director creates ensures the movie never becomes dull or boring.
The movie is currently available to watch on Shudder, as is 1994’s Nightwatch, which we recommend you see first to understand more about the backstory of the new movie’s characters. Both movies make for an enjoyable double bill, but it’s the earlier movie that will worm(er) its way into your memory.
Read More: Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever Ending Explained
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Verdict - 6.5/10
6.5/10