Zloy gorod

Fierce Town
Directed byKonstantin Buslov
Written byVadim Golovanov
Produced byKonstantin Buslov
Sergei Perepechko
Starring
CinematographyNikita Rozhdestvensky
Music bySergei Shtern
Production
companies
RB Production
Film company "22"
Cinema Fund
Distributed byKaro Premier
Release date
  • January 30, 2025 (2025-01-30) (Russia)
Running time
110 minutes
CountryRussia
LanguageRussian
Budget1.1 billion
Box office₽394 million

Fierce Town (Russian: Злой город, romanizedZloy gorod) is a 2025 Russian epic period action film produced and directed by Konstantin Buslov about the Siege of Kozelsk. It tells the story of the defense of the town of Kozelsk in Ancient Rus' during the Mongol Horde.[1][2] It stars Aleksei Guskov, Aleksandr Metyolkin, Vladimir Lyubimtsev, Leonela Manturova, Aleksey Shevchenkov, Maksim Belborodov, Aleksey Rozin, and Polina Chernyshova.

This film was theatrically released on January 30, 2025[3]

Plot

The film takes place in 1238. The Golden Horde attacked Kozelsk for two months, resulting in the death of thousands of soldiers. Will the city be able to withstand this battle?[4]

Cast

  • Aleksei Guskov as monk Daniil, former centurion of the Kozelsk squad Ratsha "both hands"
  • Aleksandr Metyolkin as Moguta, Ratsha's former serf
  • Vladimir Lyubimtsev as Lyutobor
  • Leonela Manturova as Vesnyana
  • Aleksey Shevchenkov as monk Vasily, former chieftain of the Berendey bandits
  • Maksim Belborodov as the robber Ulyba
  • Mitya Makhonin as Prince Vasily of Kozelsk
  • Aglaya Shilovskaya as Princess Maria of Kozelsk
  • Aleksey Rozin as Vadim of Kozelsk
  • Sergey Batalov as a bishop
  • Artyom Volobuyev as merchant Kudim
  • Dmitry Kulichkov as merchant Tryasila
  • Polina Chernyshova as the healer Daria, the goldsmith's daughter
  • Vasily Simonov as Radomir, the goldsmith's son
  • Yuri Pavlov as Godun
  • Viktor Suprun as Zamyata
  • Aleksey Voskovich as Vtorusha
  • Valery Dyachenko as Simeon
  • Ivan Kotikkak Golovnya
  • Maksim Solopov as Troyan
  • Valery Skorokosov as the blacksmith Tverd

Production

Filming

Filming began in November 2023, with the Moscow region chosen as the first location, and then the crew moved to the Tver region. For this purpose, a full-scale wooden city with a 12-meter-high wall, a five-meter-wide moat, and a bridge across the river were built. After filming is completed, the set will be used by other crews. The costume department crafted over a thousand historical costumes. For the crowd scenes, people with a characteristic Mongoloid appearance from Yakutia, Kalmykia, Russia, and Kazakhstan were recruited. Filming was completed by the end of May 2024.[5]

Release

Fierce Town was theatrically released in Russia on January 30, 2025, by Karo Premier Film Distribution.

See also

References

  1. ^ Vasyunov, Maxim (January 29, 2025). "Режиссер "Злого города" Буслов о предстоящей премьере: "Мне хотелось на все час пятьдесят погрузить зрителя в историю"" [Fierce Town director Buslov on the upcoming premiere: "I wanted to immerse the viewer in the story for the entire hour and fifty minutes"]. Russian Gazette (in Russian). Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  2. ^ Rodina, Olga (January 28, 2025). "Редкий выход Гуськова с женой и красавица-Алсу с подругой: Светская премьера фильма «Злой город»" [A rare appearance by Guskov and his wife, and the beautiful Alsu with a friend: The social premiere of the film Fierce Town]. Komsomol Truth (in Russian). Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  3. ^ Злой город
  4. ^ Злой город
  5. ^ Levkina, Svetlana (February 5, 2025). "Два года ушло на постройку «Злого города»: вот где создатели исторического блокбастера возвели древний Козельск" [It took two years to build the Fierce Town: here's where the creators of the historical blockbuster built ancient Kozelsk]. kz.kinoafisha.info (in Russian). Retrieved October 20, 2025.