Guilt Never Sleeps, Not Even Decades Later

Read Time:6 Minute, 35 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
The Nightwatch Collection [Limited Edition]
Nightwatch (Nattevagten) –
Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever (Nattevagten – Dæmoner går i arv) –

Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Year Released: 1994, 2023, Arrow Video Blu-ray 2025
Runtime: 1h 44m / 1h 53m
Director(s): Ole Bornedal
Writer(s): Ole Bornedal
Cast: Nikolaj Coster‑Waldau, Sofie Gråbøl, Kim Bodnia, Ulf Pilgaard / Fanny Leander Bornedal, Nikolaj Coster‑Waldau, Kim Bodnia, Ulf Pilgaard, Sonja Richter, Paprika Steen
Where to Watch: available July 22, 2025, pre-order your copy here: www.arrowvideo.com, www.mvdshop.com, or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: Ole Bornedal’s NIGHTWATCH remains one of the defining thrillers to emerge from Denmark’s pre-Nordic Noir wave—a slow-burning, sharp-edged puzzle-box of dread that first set the stage for an entire generation of European crime thrillers. Though time has passed since its 1994 debut, the film still buzzes with the unnerving charge of being alone with the dead, and now, thanks to Arrow Video’s new two-film set, both NIGHTWATCH and its long-awaited sequel, NIGHTWATCH: DEMONS ARE FOREVER, arrive packaged together for audiences old and new.

In the original NIGHTWATCH, a young Nikolaj Coster-Waldau anchors the film with a confidence that suits the character of Martin, a law student working as a night watchman at a morgue. The job starts as a financial necessity, but slowly unravels his sanity as a serial killer begins targeting women across Copenhagen. With Kim Bodnia’s charm as the reckless and unpredictable best friend and Ulf Pilgaard’s quiet menace as the inspector investigating the case, Bornedal crafts a tightly wound story that never loses its grip.

What makes NIGHTWATCH compelling is not just its clever plot turns, but its atmosphere—suffocatingly still hallways, the hum of fluorescent lights, and a constant sense that something unseen is just out of frame. Even without a particularly complex mystery, the execution makes the ride worthwhile. Bornedal, both writer and director, seems less interested in gore and more in what happens when ordinary people are dropped into proximity with horror. It’s a film about fear of the unknown—fear of what we might see when the lights flicker off—and it taps into something primal with minimalist flair.

But not everything lands perfectly. Some of the characters, particularly Martin’s strained relationship with his girlfriend Kalinka, veer into predictable territory. And while the misdirections are effective, the final revelations may feel a bit familiar to seasoned genre fans. Still, the film never overstays its welcome and maintains a strong sense of momentum throughout its final eerie moments.

Then comes NIGHTWATCH: DEMONS ARE FOREVER, arriving three decades later, not just as a sequel but a kind of reckoning. The sequel shifts the focus to Martin’s daughter, Emma (played by Fanny Leander Bornedal, the director’s daughter), as she follows in his footsteps—both literally, by taking the same night watch job, and figuratively, by confronting the past traumas that shaped her family.

Set in the present day, the sequel revisits the haunting pulses of the first film, leaning heavier into generational trauma and psychological reflection. That’s both its strength and its limitation. While there’s an admirable attempt to reframe the original’s thrills through a more introspective, emotional lens, the pace suffers under the weight of retrospection. Much of the tension comes not from external threats, but internal unraveling, and that shift might feel underwhelming for viewers looking for the raw suspense that powered the first film.

Fanny Leander Bornedal delivers a thoughtful, subtle performance, carrying much of the film’s emotion. However, returning characters—particularly Martin himself—aren’t given the same complexity, instead serving as vessels for exposition or reminders of the original. The echo of the first film’s structure is present, but it’s more haunting than a revival. While that meta-layer may be meaningful in theory, the sequel doesn’t generate quite the same urgency or clarity in its plot. Its horror is quieter, more philosophical, but less impactful.

That said, the collection’s presentation elevates both entries. Arrow presentation includes a high-definition transfer for each film, optional audio configurations, and a wealth of thoughtful extras, including commentary from Bornedal, newly filmed interviews, and essays from Nordic Noir experts. For fans of the genre or those curious about its cinematic roots, this release is as comprehensive as it is stylish.

There’s a certain unease that lingers across both films, but it manifests in vastly different ways—one strained and nerve-jarring, the other haunted and subdued. Watching them back-to-back reveals how time can reshape both storytelling and the emotional weight of fear. NIGHTWATCH hooks you with its immediacy and dread, while its sequel leans into memory and consequence. As a double feature, it’s less about answers and more about the shadows that follow us long after the lights go out.

This two-film set doesn’t just revisit a cult thriller—it builds on its legacy with a deeper, more personal continuation. NIGHTWATCH delivers pulse-pounding suspense through a lean, efficient premise. DEMONS ARE FOREVER, meanwhile, shifts gears to explore what happens after the terror fades but never fully leaves. While the tones differ, both films grapple with the cost of gazing too long into the dark. The result is a uniquely satisfying pairing—one that creeps under your skin, whether you're chasing thrills or ghosts.

Bonus Materials:
LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
High-Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation of both films
Original lossless stereo and 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio options for both films
Optional English subtitles for both films
Reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork for both films by Peter Strain
Double-sided foldout poster featuring newly commissioned artwork for both films by Peter Strain
Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the films by Eva Novrup Redvall

DISC ONE – NIGHTWATCH
Audio commentary by writer-director Ole Bornedal
Not Afraid of the Darkness, a newly filmed interview with the director of photography Dan Laustsen
Death in Denmark, an appreciation of Nightwatch and Nightwatch: Demons are Forever by film critic and Nordic Noir specialist Barry Forshaw
Nightwatch making-of documentary
Trailer

DISC TWO – NIGHTWATCH: DEMONS ARE FOREVER
How the Nightwatch Films Explore the Horrors of Adulthood, a brand-new video essay by film critic Heather Wixson
Life (and Death) on Mars: Public and Private Life in the Nightwatch Universe, a brand-new video essay by film critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
Trailer

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[photo courtesy of ARROW VIDEO, MVD ENTERTAINMENT]

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