Deathwatch (2002)

Director:

Michael J. Bassett

Writer:

Michael J. Bassett

Release Date:

7 November 2002 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | War | Thriller

Tagline:

Deliver them from evil

Plot:

In 1917, in the Western front, a group of survivors of the British Company Y reach the most forward German trench in a foggy night...

Plot Keywords:

Soldier | German | Trench | German Soldier | British Soldier

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Jamie Bell	...	Pfc. Charlie Shakespeare
Rúaidhrí Conroy	...	Pvt. Colin Chevasse (as Ruaidhri Conroy)
Mike Downey	...	Martin Plummer
Laurence Fox	...	Capt. Bramwell Jennings
Roman Horak	...	German soldier
Dean Lennox Kelly	...	Pvt. Willie McNess
Torben Liebrecht	...	Friedrich
Kris Marshall	...	Pvt. Barry Starinski
Hans Matheson	...	Pvt. Jack Hawkstone
Hugh O'Conor	...	Anthony Bradford
Matthew Rhys	...	Cpl. Doc Fairweather
Andy Serkis	...	Pvt. Thomas Quinn
Hugo Speer	...	Sgt. David Tate
Pavel Tesar	...	Mudman

Directed by
Michael J. Bassett

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Michael J. Bassett

Produced by
Michael Bischoff	....	associate producer
Mike Downey	....	producer
Jan Fantl	....	co-executive producer
Caroline Hewitt	....	executive producer
Frank Hübner	....	producer
Ralph Kamp	....	associate producer
Sam Lavender	....	executive producer
Dan Maag	....	executive producer
Sam Taylor	....	producer

Original Music by
Curt Cress
Chris Weller

Cinematography by
Hubert Taczanowski

Film Editing by
Anne Sopel

Casting by
Liora Reich

Production Design by
Aleksandar Denic

Art Direction by
Martin Martinec

Costume Design by
Lucinda Wright

Production Management
Simon Borecki	....	unit manager
Reinhild Gräber	....	production supervisor: ApolloMedia
Rudolf Kurz	....	production supervisor: ApolloMedia
Patty Saffeels	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jude Campbell	....	first assistant director: second unit
Hendrik Holler	....	first assistant director (as Hendrick 'The Machine' Holler)

Art Department
Pavel Hemmy	....	assistant property master
Dennis Todorovic	....	art department interpreter

Sound Department
Nick Adams	....	sound designer
Max Bauer	....	foley artist
Gordon Brown	....	dialogue adr editor
Normann Büttner	....	foley recordist
Paul Carr	....	sound
Daniel Dietenberger	....	foley editor
Samir Foco	....	sound effects editor
Samir Foco	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ivana Jeftic	....	sound editor
Jirí Kríz	....	production sound mixer
Jirí Kríz	....	sound
Srdjan Kurpjel	....	sound mixer
Andy Thompson	....	sound
Paul Wrightson	....	sound effects editor
Daniel Goganian	....	production sound mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Pavel Sagner	....	special effects coordinator
Jirí Vater	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Ales Dlabac	....	digital effects artist
Maros Kesjar	....	digital effects artist
David Vána	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Pavel Cajzl	....	stunt double
Petr Drozda	....	stunt coordinator
Jindrich Klaus	....	utility stunts
Rudolf Vrba	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Kriz David	....	electrician
Chad Davidson	....	camera operator
Milan Jirsa	....	gaffer
Frantisek Novák	....	first assistant camera
Petr Svoboda	....	electrician

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dita Valentinova	....	costume interpreter

Editorial Department
Trevor Brown	....	colorist
Steve Farman	....	negative cutter
Louisa Harding	....	assistant editor
Martin Hubacek	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Rob Lane	....	composer: additional music
Steve Parr	....	music mixer
Steve Parr	....	music recordist
Alexander Saal	....	music recording mixer

Other crew
Kate Barry	....	production coordinator
Daniel Jewel	....	development executive

Thanks
Stephen Daldry	....	thanks
Alexander Stevens	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• ApolloMedia Distribution (co-production) (as ApolloMedia)
• Bavaria Film
• F.A.M.E. Film & Music Entertainment AG
• Film and Music Entertainment (F&ME) (co-production)
• Odyssey Entertainment (presents)
• Portobello Pictures
• Q&Q Medien GmbH

Distributors

• Pandasia Entertainment (2004) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• GAGA
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (VHS)
• Lions Gate Films
• Magna Pacific (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
• Manga Films (2002) (Spain) (all media)
• Pathé Distribution (2002) (UK) (all media) (as Pathé!)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2003) (Finland) (DVD) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Fatts  post-production script services
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Kodak  motion picture film supplied by
• Zound  sound post-production

Also Known As:

"Death Front" - Japan (English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, language and brief sexuality

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

UK | Germany

Language:

English | French | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA | Finland:K-18 | Germany:18 | Hong Kong:IIB | Hong Kong:III | Japan:PG-12 | Norway:15 | Peru:18 | Philippines:R-13 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:18 | UK:15 | USA:R | Netherlands:16 | Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Malaysia:18SG | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Argentina:16 | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

Benesov, Czech Republic

Company:

ApolloMedia Distribution

Trivia:

In the German dubbed version, the German soldiers speak French.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The British soldiers use the Lee-Enfield No.4 MK I. The trials version of this rifle was not made until the late-'20s and early 30's. Full production of this rifle did not begin until 1941.

Quotes:

Cpl. Doc Fairweather:McNess, what are you doing?
Pvt. Willie McNess:Leaving!
Pvt. Thomas Quinn:Well that's the best idea I've heard all day.

Did I miss the plot?

I was looking forward to this movie because we have not seen one about World War 1 for quite some time and the trailers looked promising. Okay, I knew something odd was going to be happening but I never expected mish mash.

The battle was short and brief, with the rapid cutting I didn't quite catch what was going on, but it looked reasonable enough. Then the film started to lose perspective. We suddenly appear at a trench and what follows may as well be a collection of scenes and deaths all spliced together. There is no plot, no story, no justification. When things start happening that are unexplainable, films today will normally give us an explanation, or a clue at least. Deathwatch gives us nothing. Hence the flow of the film suffers with little story linking it all together. This also destroys any tension or involvement we may have the characters. What was the purpose of this film?

This is quite a shame, because the actors tried to put a good spin on affairs, and nobody showed themselves up despite the lack of flow. On the good side, the set, props, uniforms, weapons are all sound.

It certainly had potential, but the story was seriously lacking which resulted in a less than satisfactory film. Better luck next time fellas.