This week, a new Kolobok rolls into Russian cinemas, along with a full-length film about Smeshariki and a horror about a demon on a train. 

The Last Hero. Kolobok

A cunning but very charming Kolobok runs away from Belogorye in the company of a hapless baker and along the way debunks myths about his origins. In the magical forests, the newfound friends will encounter robbers, mysterious animals, and an evil sorceress who threatens to destroy Belogorye.

"The Last Hero. Kolobok" — a full-length spin-off of the "Last Hero" franchise, which already includes four films. The director's chair is again occupied by Anton Maslov ("The High-Rise", "She's Gone"), who previously directed "The Last Hero. Legacy". Garik Kharlamov and Kirill Zaitsev returned to their roles, and among the new characters are Dmitry Zhuravlev, Mila Ershova, and Gosha Kutsenko. Interestingly, even before the premiere, "Kolobok" went viral in internet memes thanks to the fierce hate from the army of fans of the "friendly neighbor". However, this hype, judging by all accounts, only strengthened the project's creators' belief in the film's eventual success.

Smeshariki Across Universes

Another clash of animation with live-action awaits the beloved Smeshariki. In the plot of the first full-length feature about the inhabitants of Romashkova Valley, Krosh and Hedgehog find a mysterious device that turns them into real children and makes them participants in a space expedition.

The directors of the sci-fi comedy are Andrey Marmontov ("City of Secrets", "Operation 'Throne'") and Ilya Maksimov, who has been productively working with the Smeshariki universe since 2003. The main roles are played by Lyudmila Artemyeva, Alexander Lykov, Yan Tsapnik, and Dmitry Kalikhov.

Labyrinth of Monsters (Cisza nocna)

The Polish horror by Bartosz Kowalski ("Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight"), which has reached Russian distribution, tells about an elderly man, a former actor named Lucian (Maciej Damięcki), whom his children place in a nursing home. Hoping that he won't be here long, Lucian is in no hurry to get used to the local routine. But one day, the man accidentally finds a mysterious door in the facility and releases sinister monsters that threaten to destroy the residents of the home.

Kowalski masterfully builds tension, using the cramped locations as a tool of psychological pressure. The visual interpretation of the monsters is clearly inspired by the worlds of Guillermo del Toro, and in terms of ideas, "Labyrinth of Monsters" enters into a dialogue with the recent thriller "The Eternauta" with Geoffrey Rush, sharing and creatively reinterpreting its conceptual findings.

Speed Demon

Another horror, but this time from the USA with a touch of "The Exorcist" and "Speed". Passengers of a high-speed express are threatened by a suddenly awakened demon. The train races at full speed, having lost control. Among those who find themselves hostages of the terrifying situation is a nun named Lou (Katie Cassidy), who must perform an exorcism to save the people from imminent death.

Director John Kyes, whose filmography is firmly associated with B-movie action films, again turns to familiar territory, balancing between gritty action and mysticism. Critics were generally pleased with the film, noting its unusual setting and the director's ability to engage the viewer in a simple yet effective adventure.

What are you planning to see this weekend? "Kolobok" or are you waiting for "Spider-Man"? Write in the comments!