Well, lets just start of by saying this movie is no way near as good as the original movie "Nattevagten", of which this movie is a remake but it's still being a pretty good and fun whodunit to have a good time with.

Kind of weird to notice how different this movie is in atmosphere and approach, since it actually got directed by the same director who made the original, 3 years prior to this American remake. And it's not just different but also most definitely less effective. There is not as much tension and mystery in this one, also due to some pacing issues (it's too fast paced at times) and a poor buildup to things.

And all while this movie in essence is still being just like the original. Not much had been changed in its story really and I was therefore also quite surprised to find out Steven Soderbergh was involved with the writing. Guess it was an easy paycheck for him, since really not all that much had been changed or added to the movie, when compared to the original movie.

While the original was being a whole lot of different things, this movie is just being a more simple and more straightforward thriller, or rather said whodunit. So really, don't expect this movie to provide you with any horror but as a mystery/thriller, I can still see this movie entertaining a whole bunch of people out there, of course especially those who aren't familiar with the original movie already.

And really, the movie on its own is really being quite good and entertaining for what it is. It really doesn't handle everything well, mainly stuff concerning the earlier mentioned pacing and buildup to things but as a whole it's still being a better movie than just the average genre attempt. There are plenty of thrills and surprises in it, that help to keep you invested in the movie.

It also has a cast to die for. Really an all-star cast, of which some actors are better known now days as back then. Ewan McGregor plays the main lead, while the movie further more stars Patricia Arquette, Nick Nolte, a still very young looking Josh Brolin, Brad Dourif and John C. Reilly. Not that this movie features any of their best or most interesting and challenging performances but still, it's always good to see so many talented people together on screen.

A definitely good enough movie as a straightforward thriller.

7/10

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Even though this is not a perfect movie, it still does nothing really wrong either and this movie is basically being a great example of how to do a great and effective, more classic type, of thriller.

The movie combines many different genre elements and it keeps throwing you around. Is it going to be a horror? Is it going to be psychological thriller? Is it going to be a thriller involving a serial killer? Every time you think you have the movie all figured out it does something new and surprising. So really, it's best to simply watch this movie, without knowing what it truly is going to be all about.

And the good news about the movie as well is that it handles all of its many different themes effectively. When the movie is supposed to be horror like it's being really horror like with its atmosphere and buildup and when the movie is supposed to be more thriller like it's really being suspenseful and mysterious. What I also liked was that the movie was having some clear Giallo genre movie elements in it but then again, every modern horror/thriller involving a killer is being in one way or another derivative of the classic Italian Giallo genre.

It really was foremost the atmosphere of the whole movie that kept it going and suspenseful and interesting. The story itself, when you really start to dissect it is being quite standard for its genre. Yet the movie still manages to surprise you, due to the way it handles certain scenes and its typical genre ingredients, such as the look and feeling it has to it.

The movie also truly benefits from it that it has some good and likable characters in it. No cocky kids, or persons who think they know best and are afraid of nothing but instead some real people, with real fears and emotions. Yes, it might be true that the characters feel that way simply just because this is a Danish production, which of course has a different approach and feeling to it than a more standardized and stylized Hollywood production. Or perhaps it's just all due to some great casting and performances by its actors. This actually was being one of Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau's very first movie roles and he now days has a pretty decent acting career, with already also movies such as "Black Hawk Down", "Kingdom of Heaven" and the television series "Game of Thrones" behind his name.

Guess there is still plenty of stuff you could complain about, such as the lack of blood and gore, while there was plenty of opportunity for it, or that the killer gets revealed far before the finale and end of the movie but that doesn't take away anything from the fact that this is simply being a very effective genre movie, that's perfectly watchable, even on repeated viewings.

8/10

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On the one hand I really want to be positive about this movie, since it's definitely a better entry than most other recent modern horror flicks but on the other hand, the movie at the same time has very little new to offer and is being a bit too simplistic and formulaic.

The foremost reason why this movie still seems to be working out so well is because of the way it got done. It's definitely a fine made movie and despite its low budget, this is definitely some quality stuff.

The problems are more with its story. It's not just that it isn't being anything original but it's also a problem that there isn't always an awful lot happening in the movie. You also definitely feel that the movie could had gotten to its point way earlier on already, also since we all basically know from the start on already what direction the movie shall go at with its story. The movie itself however still tries to surprise you and keep you in the dark for too long, which can get a bit annoying. It could had worked if the movie indeed pulled off something original or did something unexpected half way through but the movie really never does any of this.

I also do feel that the movie is stuck somewhere between two different styles. In essence this is being a typical and serious genre flick, while the movie at times also picks a more light tone, with some of its characters and relieving comedy. It's not always balanced out that well and this mostly goes at the expense of the movie its horror.

No, this by no means is being a very scary horror flick. It doesn't have any jump scares and it's also a movie without any blood or gore in it. For its horror, it mostly relies on its atmosphere and its build up to things but since there isn't really ever a good payoff to things, the horror mostly falls flat. Especially for those who are familiar with the genre and have seen dozens of movies, that all are very similar to this one, already.

I still really do feel that I should give the movie some credit. Like I said before, it's absolutely way better and also a better made movie than just the average modern genre attempt but it's a problem that not everything in it works out for its horror and that the movie is being just a tad bit too standard and also simplistic with its story.

With just a bit more originality to it, this movie would had been great! I now really can't call it more than just a better than average one.

6/10

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