Fierce Town (Russian: Злой город, romanized: Zloy 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. 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
Contents
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?
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.
Release
Fierce Town was theatrically released in Russia on January 30, 2025, by Karo Premier Film Distribution.