Anything more freaky than a haunted corpse filled trench? (Deathwatch (DVD))

Member Name: neillus182

Product:	Deathwatch (DVD)
Date:	12/03/09 (127 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Spooky, great acting

Disadvantages: Silly ending

It surprises me just how little known this British horror movie is, as it is a pretty decent film. Its strange that no one had previously tapped into the concept as well. I mean, what's one of the most frightening places to have been in in world history that a lot of people experienced? A trench in World War One right? I mean, millions of people experienced years hiding in these corridors dug into the earth, and we can't imagine how terrifying it must have been spending the nights in them, in the dark, with bombs flying overhead, and being surrounded by death, mud and rats, it was truly a horrifying experience. So, a pretty good idea to set a horror movie in one, as appose to the typical setting of forest or small town.

Plot-
A group of British soldiers in 1917 find themselves lost in the mist after a charge against the Germans. They quickly come across a German trench that is almost completely unguarded, which they take instantly and decide to hold. Though, little time passes before things take a sinister turn. Why were there only a few Germans left guarding the trench? Why are there corpses everywhere? Why were the remaining Germans so frightened? What is causing the strange behaviour amongst them? The troops find themselves trapped in a nightmarish scenario as these questions get answered.

This movie has a good balance between horror and mystery, and although the special efeects aren't of a high calibre due to the budget of this film, they are used pretty well, and this is a genuinly eerie film. The atmosphere throughout is pretty creepy, what with the setting being a dull and dingy trench full of corpses, making it the perfect setting for death and intimidation to spread.

The acting here is pretty impressive, with Jamie Bell excelling as Charlie, the young lad who isn't attuned to the horrors of war, and still cares greatly about preserving human life, unlike his comrades.

My personal favourite was Dean Lennox Kelly (who plays Kev in Shameless) as Pvt. Willie McNess, the aggresive Scot with a caring side. I felt that he was unused, as his acting shone through in this, and he was definately the one who for me brought humour to this movie.

Andy Serkis also excelled as Pvt. Thomas Quinn, a moderately psychotic man with a relentless and very agressive hatred for the Germans.

Some of the scenes in this were truly horrifying, such as corpses being ripped apart by barbed wire, so this isn't a film for the squeemish.

The only downside to this movie is the end, which is quite simply pretty weird, so you'll have to find out why for yourself :)

Conclusion-
This is a pretty underated British horror if you ask me, as it has a good few scares, and is a pretty unique script. Its impressive acting from the little known cast helps to push this above the level of your typical low budget horror.

Summary: A must see for fans of good old low budget horror