Timur Bekmambetov is a Russian director with a keen eye for apocalyptic spectacle, and a taste for modern-day Russian and Central Asian black market sleaze.
Adapted from the second and third parts of Sergey Lukyanenko’s novel “The Night Watch,” “Day Watch” is a sequel that follows the source material’s bizarre mix of sci-fi and noir.
Night Watch operative Anton works with his love interest Svetlana to spare his son Yegor who seeks the history-altering power of the Chalk of Fate that the Light and Dark Others desire.
Its truncated plot and Russian pop culture references may be lost on Western audiences, but there is an undeniable cinematic talent at work here that transcends cultural differences.
The film’s unbelievably low 4.2 million dollar budget gives further credence to Bekmambetov’s ability to mesmerize with stunning visual compositions and fierce action sequences.
“Day Watch” is like a drone of cinematic House music for the eyes.
Rated R. 139 mins.
