Watchmen
2009 · Directed by Zack Snyder
Original language: English
- mystery
- action
- science fiction
The story
In a gritty and alternate 1985, the glory days of costumed vigilantes have been brought to a close by a government crackdown. But after one of the masked veterans is brutally murdered, an investigation into the killer is initiated. The reunited heroes set out to prevent their own destruction, but in doing so they uncover a sinister plot that puts all of humanity in grave danger.
What it’s like
Cold, saturated blues and sickly yellows dominate Zack Snyder's 1985 America, with rain-slicked streets, flickering newsprint and the glow of television sets in dim apartments. Camera moves are often slow and deliberate, with stylised slow motion during fights and frequent pans across still tableaux that mimic comic panels. Sound leans on the needle-drop: Bob Dylan, Philip Glass-style synth and Leonard Cohen threaded through a stark, bleak score, with long stretches of ambient hum. The vibe is grim, nostalgic and mournful, a late-night watch for a rainy weekend when you want something heavy and atmospheric. Pacing is uneven, shifting between brooding interior monologue and bursts of hyper-kinetic action. The emotional register runs from weary melancholy to dread, following middle-aged vigilantes who have lost their purpose and must rediscover what they stand for. Violence is frequent and graphic: brutal beatings, a grisly murder opening, gunfire, bodies shredded in explosions, and a few nude scenes with sexual content and some sexual violence. It is not gentle. Best for viewers who like dark, adult superhero stories and don't mind the bleak tone and gore, especially fans of the source graphic novel.
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