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Blood, Honor, and Bullets: Why The Duelist (2016) is the Dark Horse of Period Thrillers
As one of the first Russian films shot for IMAX, the production value is staggering, showcasing opulent costumes against the muddy, rain-soaked streets of a dark Saint Petersburg. The Duelist(2016)
If you think period dramas are all tea parties and polite ballroom dancing, (2016) is here to shoot that notion right in the face. Directed by Alexey Mizgirev, this Russian epic is less Pride and Prejudice and more John Wick meets 19th-century Saint Petersburg. The Ultimate Professional: A Dueler-for-Hire Blood, Honor, and Bullets: Why The Duelist (2016)
Critics have noted the film's unflinching detail—like the "unforgettable" scene of a 19th-century surgeon digging for a bullet in Yakovlev’s shoulder. A Web of Revenge Review: 'The Duelist' Is a Good Shot. A Very Good Shot. The premise is a high-concept hook that immediately
The premise is a high-concept hook that immediately pulls you in: in the era of Tsar Alexander II, aristocratic honor is everything, but dying for it is inconvenient. Enter Yakovlev (played with brooding intensity by Pyotr Fyodorov), a mysterious retired officer who makes a "comfortable" living by taking on other people’s duels.
Most historical films sanitize the past, but The Duelist leans into the grime and gore.