NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Arrow Blu-ray (July 2025): Arrow has transferred Ole Bornedal's (Danish produced) Nightwatch (1994) and Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever (2023) as part of their double Blu-ray package of The Nightwatch Collection. Dan Laustsen’s (The Shape of Water, Nightmare Alley, Crimson Peak) cinematography of the original version uses low lighting and tight framing to emphasize the morgue’s oppressive atmosphere. Shadows and reflections create a sense of being watched, while the color palette (dominated by passive blues and whites) enhances the clinical horror. The sequel retains the morgue’s claustrophobic feel but updates the palette with darker greens and grays, reflecting a tighter modern aesthetic. The 1080P transfers highlight their distinct visual identities while showcasing technical prowess. Nightwatch is framed in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, sourced from its original 35 mm negative, while Demons Are Forever was shot digitally and presented in a 2.45:1 aspect ratio, offering a crisper, more refined image with enhanced detail in darker sequences (e.g., Wörmer’s revival), though it occasionally sacrifices the organic film grain for a polished, slightly artificial look typical of modern productions. Both films benefit from excellent contrast and maxed out bitrates. They are both clean offering flawless HD presentations. This dual release is a visually compelling comparison of Scandinavian cinema’s evolution with the original’s tactile warmth contrasting the sequel’s sleek intensity.

NOTE: We have added 128 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

The audio offerings on the Arrow Blu-ray set include original (Nightwatch) lossless stereo and DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround options for both (24-bit,) providing a rich sonic landscape tailored to each film’s tone. Nightwatch’s stereo track faithfully reproduces Joachim Holbek’s (Manderlay, Europa, Breaking the Waves) minimalist score - haunting strings and piano notes - with clear dialogue and subtle ambient morgue sounds (e.g., refrigeration hums), while the 5.1 bump expands slightly into the rear channels for atmospheric depth, though it prioritizes front-center clarity to match its psychological focus. Demons Are Forever leverages the 5.1 mix more dynamically with Ceiri Torjussen’s (I, Robot, The Day After Tomorrow) compelling score and amplified effects (e.g., stabs, footsteps) enveloping the listener. Both films sound robust. The original’s restrained, front-heavy audio contrasts with the sequel’s bolder, multi-dimensional approach, reflecting their shift from cerebral thriller to action-horror. Arrow offers optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-rays.

The Arrow Blu-rays are stacked with extras. Disc One features an audio commentary by writer-director Ole Bornedal on Nightwatch (in English,) providing personal anecdotes and creative decisions; a 17-minute interview with cinematographer Dan Laustsen exploring the film’s visual style; a 1/4-hour appreciation by Barry Forshaw (Nordic Noir) contextualizing both films; a 1/2-hour making of documentary delving into the original’s theatrical roots and cast dynamics; and trailers in Danish, German, and English (totaling under 5 minutes), offering a rich behind-the-scenes perspective. Disc Two includes an 18-minute video essay by Heather Wixson on the franchise’s exploration of adulthood; a 23-minute essay by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas (1000 Women In Horror, 1895-2018) on public/private life themes; and a trailer. The Blu-ray package is elevated by a reversible sleeve and double-sided foldout poster with newly commissioned artwork by Peter Strain, plus an illustrated collector’s booklet by Eva Novrup Redvall (Writing and Producing Television Drama in Denmark: From The Kingdom to The Killing) with new essays, though the sequel’s extras lean toward critique over archival content, contrasting the original’s production-heavy focus.

Nightwatch follows Martin (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), a law student who takes a night guard job at a Copenhagen morgue to fund his studies, only to find himself drawn into a web of paranoia and murder. As the protagonist, Martin is a relatable everyman whose curiosity and naivety spiral into fear. Coster-Waldau’s breakout performance captures Martin’s transition from awkward student to haunted survivor, his wide-eyed expressions and hesitant demeanor grounding the film’s psychological tension. Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever picks up 30 years later, focusing on Emma (Fanny Leander Bornedal,) Martin’s daughter, who takes a night watch job at the same Copenhagen morgue to confront her family’s past. Her investigation into her father’s trauma - triggered by his encounter with serial killer Wörmer (Ulf Pilgaard) - accidentally revives Wörmer from a coma, unleashing a revenge-fueled killing spree. Martin (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Jens (Kim Bodnia) return, their aged perspectives adding emotional weight as the plot weaves intergenerational trauma with slasher tropes. The Arrow Nightwatch Collection Blu-ray is a desirable release for fans of Nordic Noir, delivering a visually and aurally impressive package that bridges the atmospheric depth of Nightwatch (1994) with the action-oriented Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever (2023) for genre enthusiasts, balancing nostalgia with contemporary appeal despite the sequel’s less innovative edge. The original’s cult status and the sequel’s legacy role are available on another of Arrow's complete packages. An easy recommendation to any keen cinephiles. 

Gary Tooze