An unprecedented epidemic of rabies is breaking out in the taiga. Infected wolves become more and more ferocious, and even the slightest bite brings certain death. At the same time, a desperate father decides to forcibly isolate his son in one of the hunting lodges in order to save him from addiction. Soon, he and several local residents will have to fight not only with a rabid pack, but also with the most dangerous predator of the forest.
Practical Effects
Real wolf chaos, not CGI fur blobs.
Acting
Serebryakov's dad desperation hits uncomfortably close.
Production
Taiga so cold you'll need a blanket.

Director
Dmitriy Dyachenko
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Director Dyachenko insisted on live wolf choreography despite insurance nightmares; several scenes feature actual trained predators with minimal CGI enhancement.
The film deliberately mirrors Russia's real opioid crisis in remote regions, where desperate families literally kidnap addicts for forced withdrawal. The wolves are almost a relief from that reality.