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'Night Watch' is tough to follow, but it looks great

Vampire movie lovers, the film that will drench you in a modern-day, frenetic, video game-style bloodbath has arrived.

The Russian "Night Watch," based on Sergei Lukyanenko's novel of supernatural beings and battles on the streets of Moscow, brings with it not only box-office records in its native land but a complicated yet sometimes engrossing story of good vs. evil, special effects pyrotechnics and absorbing, aggressive camerawork worthy of a Darren Aronofsky film (think "Pi," "Requiem for a Dream").

Fox Searchlight 'Night Watch' B The verdict: Vampires, shape-shifters, good and evil, with a nifty Russian twist. Director: Timour Bekmambetov Starring: Konstantin Khabensky, Dima Martynov, Vladimir Menshov, Maria Poroshina, Galina Tyunina, Mariya Poroshina Run time: 115 minutes Release date: Feb. 17, 2006 Rating: R for strong violence, disturbing images and language. Language: Russian with English subtitles. See showtimes On the web Official movie site View the trailer    Trailers require Quicktime Rate 'Night Watch'   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

This movie, with its dark, streetwise veneer, leaps centuries, poses that witches, sorcerers and shape-shifters dwell among us and unleashes a swirling vortex of crows.

The latter is to what end? Who knows, but it sure looks swell.

Like "Harry Potter," "Night Watch" (and its two pending sequels, "Day Watch" and "Dusk Watch") is its own alternate universe — but far more deadly and grotesque.

The world apparently is divided between forces of light and dark. It's a power struggle that sort of resembles Kate Beckinsale's "Underworld" movies — minus the catsuit.

There are roving vampires seen only through reflections in the shards of broken mirrors, toys that morph into creepy crawling things, and an ultimate villain intent on a darkside victory over a young man with special powers who fights for good.

The movie's story is often clouded in its visual overkill. What's perfectly clear is that director Timur Bekmambetov, now heavily sought after in Hollywood, has seen the Gulf War saga "Three Kings," every episode of "CSI" in all its incarnations plus the films of powerhouse visual directors such as Aronofsky and Quentin Tarantino.

Clarity may be lost, but rare is the movie that grabs viewers by their throats and never lets go.

Bekmambetov's "Night Watch" is one of the grabbers.