"Call Center" is a bright event in Russian cinema, a bold and extraordinary experiment that can be considered successful without any reservations.

On March 23, the premiere of the new Russian series "Call Center" took place, authored by the duo Natasha Merkulova and Alexey Chupov, known for the films "Intimate Places" and "The Man Who Surprised Everyone". The show's poster proclaims that "you have never seen a series like this before." Let's figure out whether there is any basis for such a loud statement or if it's just a clever marketing ploy.

Engaging Setup

At the center of the plot is a young guy named Kirill (Pavel Tabakov), who works at a sex shop call center. On his birthday, he proposes to his colleague Katya (Yulia Khlynina), but is rejected, simultaneously learning that his beloved is cheating on him with Denis (Vladimir Yaglych), their boss. In a fit of anger, Kirill tells them everything he thinks and quits, but he doesn't manage to leave the office as terrorists, calling themselves Mom and Dad, intervene and threaten to blow up the company's office if the hostages try to escape.

Mom and Dad, in the guise of animated characters with computer-generated voices, offer the employees to participate in various trashy attractions, from a naked round dance to a bottle where you can lose your head (literally). At the same time, no one promises that the heroes will be able to get out after 8 hours, when the explosion is supposedly supposed to occur.

Solid References

Almost any hermetic thriller has obvious references, like the "Saw" franchise, but Merkulova and Chupov did not follow suit and went further. The authors are not limited to events inside the office but use flashbacks to reveal the characters in the manner of the series "Lost," making them more alive and deep. And as we know, the more interesting the character, the easier it is to empathize with them and the harder it is to part with them when they are lost.

Multi-Genre and Black Humor

Each individual novella is a complete story on topical and complex themes. There is room for the conflict in/over Ukraine, a peculiar underground BDSM community, religious fanaticism, and even a variation of clinical lycanthropy. Because of this, it is impossible to strictly classify "Call Center" into any specific genre.

The multi-genre nature adds dynamics and variety to the series, and allows the actors to express themselves in a wide range of conditions. Inside the office, the plot often ventures into the territory of body horror, which in itself sets the show apart from Russian TV. And if you add to that the rather black humor at times, you definitely won't find an analogue of "Call Center" in the Russian landscape.

What About the Technical Side?

The series is shot stylishly and quite on par with beloved Western shows. Merkulova and Chupov used a mix of shooting types (traditional and mockumentary), did not forget about bright and emotional action scenes, and invited talented actors, even for episodic roles. Particularly notable were the charming Nikita Kukushkin and the pretty Stasya Miloslavskaya. A special mention should be made of the original use of Soviet children's melodies, which added even more surrealism to the already grotesque narrative.

Is "Call Center" Worth Watching?

Despite many obvious advantages, it is impossible to recommend the new work of Merkulova and Chupov to everyone. It contains quite a lot of on-screen violence, which may scare off impressionable viewers, and the specific humor and abundance of profanity will not be to everyone's taste. Nevertheless, "Call Center" is a bright event in Russian cinema, a bold and extraordinary experiment that can be considered successful without any reservations.

Trailer: