Rabies

The Rage is an intense Russian thriller that hit screens in 2023, keeping audiences glued to their seats. Directed by Dmitry Dyachenko and penned by Alexei Kazakov, it features a strong cast, including Alexei Serebriakov, Alexander Ustyugov, Anna Ukolova, and Kirill Polukhin.

The plot centers on a group of flawed but intriguing characters: a father on the brink of prison, his son battling heroin addiction, a crooked cop, and a drunken hunter. This mismatched crew finds themselves in a life-or-death struggle against a pack of fierce wolves and a rabid bear.

Cinematographer Yuri Nikogosov does an incredible job of capturing the film's tense vibe and raw emotions, making for a gripping viewing experience. I just wish the CGI matched the rest of the film's quality.

Even though the storyline might sound a bit outrageous, the film manages to weave in heartfelt moments and real human connections amid the chaos. The Rage is a thrilling journey that balances excitement with emotional depth, making it a must-watch for fans of intense dramas. I really enjoyed The Rage and would rate it at 70%. It truly showcases the talent within the Russian film scene.

The only good thing about this film is the synopsis-the premise, which (in theory) promises adrenaline and action.

However, just 15 minutes in, it becomes clear that this film is a complete failure. The characters are poorly conceived and shallow. The dialogues are dull, hastily written, or perhaps crafted by someone whose connection to writing is as strong as a shark's connection to vegetarianism. The action scenes are awful, disjointed from the rest of the film, and utterly fail to create the intended effect.

"My son also sat in front of the computer all night, and then he started using heroin."

I'm 45 years old, I play games all night, and I still haven't gotten hooked on heroin! Two stars and a middle finger for the director.

What a hit in the face this Russian film in the best we can find, besides the Hollywood like crap that Russians may also produce from time to time. This is truly the kind of Russian film which I am mad about : poignant, powerful, rough, with no length at all. The relationship between this man and his drug addict son justifies to watch it, besides the rest which is also outstanding. In this movie, you have two parts, very different one from the other. It may have been inspired from American horror films, but I don't care; after all, which film is not inspired by another one? Something in this story reminded me Joe Carnahan's THE GREY - with Liam Neeson when he was still good - settings, some plot elements, lead character.... An excellent Russian horror flick.