Deathwatch (2002)

In the middle of World War I, nine British soldiers caught behind enemy lines seek refuge in a complex network of German trenches. What they soon discover is that they aren't alone - and it isn't a German soldier that's hunting them down.

Director:

M.J. Bassett (as Michael J. Bassett)

Writer:

M.J. Bassett (as Michael J. Bassett)

Stars:

Jamie Bell, Rúaidhrí Conroy, Mike Downey

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jamie Bell	...	Pfc. Charlie Shakespeare
Rúaidhrí Conroy	...	Pvt. Colin Chevasse (as Ruaidhri Conroy)
Mike Downey	...	Martin Plummer
Laurence Fox	...	Capt. Bramwell Jennings
Roman Horák	...	German soldier (as Roman Horak)
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

Storyline

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. They capture a German soldier that advises that evil is in the trench, forcing the soldiers to kill each other, and asks them to leave the place. Only the private Charlie Shakespeare listens and helps the prisoner, while a supernatural force scares and makes the soldiers insane.

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Plot Keywords:

soldier | german | trench | german soldier | british soldier | 

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Taglines:

Deliver them from evil

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | War | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, language and brief sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

Torben Liebrecht had to be taken to the hospital to be treated for exposure after all the scenes where he's tied to a cross were shot.

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Goofs

In one scene it shows one of the soldiers finding and later talking on a radio. This could not be possible since radios for military field use that you could talk on did not exist until WW2. The primary mode of radio communication would be by CW (Morris Code) using a telegraph type key and not by picking up a handheld microphone. In 1917 radio transmitters were large and cumbersome to operate under field conditions especially in a trench where antennas were also needed to transmit and receive radio signals.

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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.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: What's the Worst That Could Happen?/Pearl Harbor/The Anniversary Party/Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures (2001)

User Reviews

Worthwatch

Another in the recent wave of War-Horror movies like Dog Soldiers and The Bunker, this one actually has a couple of stand out moments. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, but there are some interesting moments with barbed wire. The acting was good overall, with most of the actors showing some nice restraint. Typically, you give an actor a period military uniform, a gun, and some exclamation points in the dialogue and you have a recipe for disaster. Points go to the director for keeping a lid on the overly dramatic yelling and screaming. Still, the pacing can be a little tedious at times, and tends to get a little repetitious. Succeeds where The Bunker fell down in that it actually delivers some chills and delivers an ending that isn't too reminiscent of a Twilight Zone episode. 6 out of 10.

Details

Country:

UK Germany

Language:

English French German

Release Date:

6 December 2002 (UK)

Also Known As:

No Man's Land

Filming Locations:

Benesov, Czech Republic

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,270,658

Company Credits

Production Co:

ApolloMedia Distribution, Bavaria Film, F.A.M.E. Film & Music Entertainment AG

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1