Is it worth watching "The Survival Game" - a series where Sasha Bortich and Alexei Chadov suffer in the Russian taiga

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The first two episodes are gripping, but the characters lack liveliness.

A new series is being released on the Russian TNT channel and streaming service Premier, directed by Karen Hovhannisyan (“I Stay”).

The plot tells about the reality show "The Survivor", to which completely different characters are invited from all over Russia. Participants are brought to the Siberian taiga. Host Igor Vernik (played by Igor Vernik) explains the rules: players must split into two teams, win competitions and survive in harsh conditions. The prize of one million euros will be awarded to the last remaining one. As an unexpected bonus, Alexey Chadov and Alexandra Bortich (both actors in the role of themselves) join the show.

But after the first day of the game, everything does not go according to plan and terrible events begin to happen around. And there is nowhere to wait for help.

Interesting idea

Of course, the idea of a reality show that turns into a survival story is not new. Suffice it to recall the foreign TV series "Siberia", built on exactly the same principle. Or the sixth season of American Horror Story.

But nevertheless, the topic is relevant: such programs have not gone anywhere, and viewers continue to criticize them for deception. "The Survival Game" shows the transition from a television show, when the characters are surrounded by cameramen and at any time you can leave the project, to real problems, when you can only rely on your own strengths.

In addition, the authors already from the middle of the first episode throw the viewer into the thick of things. The plot can be accused of haste: it is not possible to feel the very atmosphere of the reality show, and then be surprised at the contrast. Still, too fast a pace in such a story is better than unreasonable delay in action.

From the finale of the first episode, it becomes interesting what will happen next, and the cliffhanger of the second episode changes the rules again. Here you can clearly feel a reference to the legendary project "Lost", which, with such a technique, motivated the audience to return to watching.

The main thing is that in the Russian TV series the scriptwriters do not twist the story so that they cannot get out of it.

But too uneven start

The beginning of the first episode seems to set the atmosphere of the series: it is a complete imitation of a reality show. Wernick poses for the camera in the role of the presenter, operators with equipment also regularly appear in the frame. Even the heroes periodically turn to the film crew for help.

The action itself is interrupted by short stories of the main characters about themselves, allegedly filmed before the start of the show, and even inserts recorded on mobile phones.

But as soon as it seems that everything that happens will be presented in the spirit of mocumentari - as it was, for example, in the TV series "River" or even in the famous "Blair Witch" - this concept is simply forgotten.

Such disorder confuses and interferes with the mood. It was necessary either to immediately abandon the idea of pseudo-documentary and not let Wernick speak directly into the camera, or to hold out the idea to the end and build the entire series on the subjective view of the participants in the process.

Although, it seems that in further episodes, the original approach will no longer be remembered, and therefore it can be considered just an experiment. Then the series turns into an ordinary feature film.

Variety of heroes

The story of the reality show allowed the authors to show many different people who would not have met in ordinary life. And therefore, each viewer can choose a favorite.

The "Survival Game" represents literally all types: from accountant Elena (Ulyana Lukina), for whom her friends filled out a questionnaire, and pensioner Semyon (Valery Skorokosov) to athlete Victoria (Linda Lapinsh) and MMA fighter Sergei (Mikhail Kremer). It is clear that these completely different people will have to unite in a difficult situation and it is in the taiga that the best and worst traits of their characters will appear.

The idea with the participation of Chadov and Bortich is very witty at all. Most of the roles were played by not the most famous actors, so the viewer can see them as a photographer or businessman. But people often joke about top Russian artists that they are constantly playing themselves. So why not show just that on the screen?

But an abundance of clichés

Unfortunately, the idea with a variety of characters works only partially. And first of all, this is a flaw in the writers. One gets the impression that there are no halftones for the creators of The Survival Game.

The fighter commands everyone and because of his arrogance makes stupid things. The model flaunts her breasts and says that men need to "ask the right way." And as for an honest traffic police officer who went to the show for money - after all, “it's not sugar to work in the traffic police”, and it’s hard to watch without a sarcastic grin. If such clichés are not enough for someone, then the representative of the Caucasian nationality (he, of course, the owner of the restaurant) will name a barbecue as the most necessary thing.

Some heroes are still given the opportunity to reveal their characters in a more interesting way. Others remain walking stereotypes. Moreover, not all actors can cope. It's hard to look at the scenes of Irina Voronova, who plays the arrogant owner of a jewelry company - she just reads the words monotonously.

In this regard, Alexei Chadov and Alexandra Bortich were more fortunate. Not only do they have richer experience in filming, they also don't need to reincarnate. Of course, they do not play themselves, but some grotesque versions of the characters, but still the closeness to real life makes the characters alive. Although the stars are at first invited guests, and the plot is not built on them.

High-quality shooting

It is a separate pleasure to observe that the level of development of domestic serials is growing every year. The "Survival Game" was filmed in beautiful locations in Abkhazia, and therefore the picture does not feel like a pavilion squeeze.

In dynamic scenes, the subjective camera seems to allow the viewer to become a participant in a chase or fight. True, sometimes they go too far with a flash, trying to show the confusion and panic of the heroes. But Hollywood cinema is also a sinner.

Even the color correction pleases: the green of nature contrasts well with the muted tones in the homes of the heroes. Although night shots may be too dark, you will have to turn up the brightness of the screen.

But there are conventions and unnecessary scenes

Sometimes you have to make a significant allowance for strange plot moves to get inspired. Initially, the operators are also participants in the plot and the viewer sees what is happening through their eyes. And then the heroes claim that the entire film crew is gone. And it is very difficult to realize this, because the shooting continues. It turns out that this is now a different camera, which is behind the scenes. You just need to accept such a transition.

Further in the plot, conventions will appear that are hard to believe. For example, everyone is surprised at the tattoo on the lower back of a young girl. As if now the beginning of the nineties and drawings on the body are done only by representatives of subcultures and prisoners.

And to top it all off, they will show a three-minute fight between two naked men. She does not move the plot and is needed just to impress the viewer with the courage of the authors. Look, they did not hesitate to show such a frank and rough scene!

In general, the first episodes of the series leave rather pleasant impressions. The plot is really captivating, and I wonder how the authors will wriggle out further. Shooting pleases with its quality. Confused only by the abundance of cliches and boring characters. But there is hope that this will gradually get rid of. The main thing is not to turn the action into a jumble of complex ideas, but to stop at a holistic concept.