☆ ☆ ☆
Nightwatch (1994) – O. Bornedal
A Nineties serial
killer thriller out of Denmark that was a huge hit there but didn’t get
released in the US while a remake was being organised. The film has an iffy tone, almost comedic at
times, darkly (but too causally) taking in prostitution, lads’ pranks, and even
necrophilia. Martin (Nikolaj
Coster-Waldau) is a law student who takes a job as morgue night watchman right
at the time when a serial killer is prowling Copenhagen. His best friend Jens (Kim Bodnia) is an edgy
jokester who might be crazy enough to be the killer. His girlfriend, Kalinka, is played by Sofie
Gråbøl (who years later would star as Detective Sarah Lund in the Danish police
procedural series The Killing). The
morgue certainly is spooky and young Martin is shown the ropes by the retiring
night watchman and has other details filled in by the homicide detective who
visits regularly (particularly when a new victim is brought there). Perhaps
there is something European about the odd tone of the film because it remains weird
even as the film descends into a stock-standard “killer chases our heroes”
climax, culminating with a silly wedding scene.
I know humour is often used to cut the tension in horror films but something
feels not quite right here. An undertone
of ‘90s misogyny (passive not intentional) leaves a bitter aftertaste. Apparently, there was a years-later sequel in
2023.
