Disaster Strikes Moscow in 'Metro'

I love seeing another country's take on different movie subjects that we take for granted here in the United States. It's interesting to see what Asian filmmakers do with giant monster films like "The Host." We've seen Nazi zombies in Norway's "Dead Snow." Asian cinema also has its own superhero showcased several times, including the latest version "Legend of the Fist:The Return of Chen Zhen."

Thanks to visionary filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov, there have been more than a few horror- and sci-fi-oriented movies coming out of Russia in the past few years. For example, we've seen the "Night Watch" movies and "Black Lightning." Now our Russian friends offer us their take on the disaster film with the upcoming "Metro."

It looks like "Metro" might be putting a little emphasis on the 2012 "end of the world" concept with the film as well. The filmmakers seem like they're using that to their advantage on the movie poster but not overdoing it. They're taking into consideration that, unless the world does end in 2012, they'll be promoting a DVD release of the movie in 2013 and don't want an outdated product on their hands.

"Metro" uses an interesting catalyst that hasn't been explored when we venture into disaster film territory. According to Twitch Film, the movie "is set in the Moscow subway system." It's "a system on the verge of collapse due to a water leak that sends the Moscow River racing through the tunnels. The problem, of course, is that the tunnels run under much of the city and if they collapse then so do the buildings on top." That's an original idea for a disaster film.

Whenever I watch a film from Russia, I always try to take into account that they seem like they're a few years behind us with special effects and CGI. You can tell they're moving forward but are still not quite up to speed with other countries. This is still the case with what is shown in the teaser trailer for "Metro." It shows some CGI shots of water that look less than spectacular. It is a teaser trailer, however, so I'm sure the creators will do more work to the film before it is released.

It will be interesting to see Moscow be obliterated in the same way we get to see New York, Tokyo, Chicago, and so many other major metropolitan areas around the world come down in movies. "Metro" could make for some very elaborate scenes of the Kremlin and other famous landmarks in the area collapsing. There's an artist's rendering of a subway train crashed through an interstate bridge on the movie poster that gives us a hint as to what we can expect.

"Metro" was directed by Anton Megerdichev. There hasn't been any cast members announced yet. The movie is set for release in Russia on December 21, 2012. I'm sure we'll get it in the United States in a limited run of some kind.

For more articles by Eric Shirey, check out:

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