The Scythian (2018) – Official Trailer

The Scythian (2018), also known as The Last Warrior, is a Russian historical action film directed by Rustam Mosafir. Set in the early medieval period in Eastern Europe, the film offers a gritty, intense portrayal of a brutal and changing world where different tribes and cultures clash for power and survival. The story follows Lutobor (played by Aleksey Faddeev), a warrior who must navigate through treacherous lands in a quest to rescue his kidnapped wife and newborn son.

The movie is set in an era when the once-mighty Scythians—a nomadic warrior tribe known for their strength and savagery—are dwindling and being replaced by the rising influence of Christianity and Slavic civilization. Lutobor, a loyal soldier in service to a Slavic prince, is thrust into this volatile world when his family is taken by a rogue group of Scythians known as the Wolves of Ares, a feared faction holding onto the remnants of Scythian culture. Forced to ally with a captured Scythian assassin named Martan (played by Aleksandr Kuznetsov), Lutobor sets out on a dangerous journey across enemy lands to reclaim his family.

The film explores themes of loyalty, cultural clash, and survival, with Lutobor’s character embodying the struggle between old and new ideologies. His relationship with Martan evolves from hostility to reluctant respect, highlighting the complexities of the human spirit and the possibility of unity amid fierce cultural and religious conflicts.

The Scythian is known for its raw, visually striking style, with gritty battle scenes, brutal hand-to-hand combat, and detailed, realistic period settings that reflect the harshness of the era. The film’s cinematography captures the bleak beauty of Eastern Europe’s wilderness and combines it with a dark, somber tone that immerses viewers in the ruthless and lawless world of medieval warriors. The action scenes are choreographed to convey a visceral realism, with limited reliance on CGI, adding to the grounded and immersive feel of the film.

Though The Scythian might not have reached a large international audience, it received attention for its unique take on the historical action genre and its authentic depiction of an underexplored period in cinematic storytelling. The film’s emphasis on intense, grounded combat and moral ambiguity allows it to stand out among more traditional historical epics. However, its slow pacing and dark tone may not appeal to all audiences, especially those expecting a straightforward action film.

Overall, The Scythian is a visually captivating and thematically rich journey into a time of transition, where violence and loyalty are tested, and the survival of one’s culture and family becomes the ultimate struggle. It offers a fresh perspective on historical action, merging Russian mythology with historical intrigue to create a tale of endurance, change, and redemption.