In the Moscow Slums Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

In the Moscow Slums Blu-ray Movie Review

In the Moscow Slums is an exciting adventure adapting the work of Arthur Conan Doyle and the beloved Sherlock Holmes classic The Sign of Four. Executive produced by Galina Shadur (Day of the Full Moon, Anna Karenina: Vronsky's Story), In the Moscow Slums provides a new interpretation of the beloved literary classic. In the Moscow Slums is also inspired by the writing of beloved Russian journalist Vladimir Gilyarovsky. The adaptation is freewheeling and not a strict by-the-numbers adaptation of the Arthur Conan Doyle text. Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson have been replaced with famous figures in the pantheon of Russian history. Cineastes with a love of Russian filmmaking will adore the fun and freewheeling adaptation of In the Moscow Slums.

In the Moscow Slums adapts material from The Sign of Four while integrating so many elements of Russian history and culture – literature and otherwise. The result? In the Moscow Slums makes for an interesting experience for Sherlock Holmes fans. Stanislavskiy (Konstantin Kryukov) is working on a new theatrical production of Gorky’s The Lower Depths.

Stanislavskiy is a beloved theater director and actor with a passion for the theatrical. Stanislavskiy cares about the role of the city as a regular theme in his works. Attempting to deliver on the play with an even more evocative and profound understanding of the characters and their journey while living in the slums, Stanislavskiy turns to the charming and kind journalist Gilyarovskiy (Mikhail Porechenkov).

Stanislavskiy requests a personal guided tour of the area by Gilyarovskiy – despite the city having a more dangerous legacy and the unstoppable rumors of the depths to which the city can cause chaos for those who step inside. Watch your step! There’s danger lurking around every corner.

As Stanislavskiy and Gilyarovskiy set forth on their adventure, the comedic sleuthing duo find themselves in for one surprise after another as the pair encounter the unexpected murder of The Rajah chess player in their crosshairs. Stanislavskiy and Gilyarovskiy also encounter the gorgeous Countess (Anfisa Chernykh). The Countess even joins them on some of the fun.

With dangerous enemies around every corner, can Stanislavskiy and Gilyarovskiy escape risk of death and get some help by the Countess? The Moscow Slums prove to be deadlier than expected and there’s even a killer with a blow-dart along the way. Adventure, mystery, and comedic thrills as the Sherlock Holmes inspired duo take on one of their biggest missions.

A modern Sherlock Holmes adaptation with so much passion for the world of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the historical figures who also inspired the Russian feature-film adaptation, In the Moscow Slums should be considered a must-see for fans of Sherlock Holmes adaptations – especially modern adaptations with unique spins on the characters. The production has a fun take on the characters. The actors imbue their roles with the gusto and excitement requisite for a terrific production. There is abundant charm and wit between the actors and as a result the characters provide a comedic charm to the mystery that makes for easy entertainment for Sherlock Holmes fans.

The production design by Sergey Fevralev (Anna Karenina: Vronsky's Story, Wings Over Berlin) is impeccable and there is much to cherish about the design elements. Fevralev is a superb talent. The design elements are top-notch and there is so much to enjoy about the production attributes and how these elements helped to expand the narrative of the filmmaking.

The costumes designed by Dmitriy Andreev (The Conquest of Siberia, White Tiger) and Vladimir Nikiforov (The Conquest of Siberia, Anna Karenina: Vronsky's Story) are award-worthy and one of the best and most charming elements of the film. Andreev and Nikiforov did great work as costume designers. Everything about the costuming helps to bring the filmmaking to life in an impressive way. The production finds a more refined voice with the period setting being perfectly showcased by the costumes.

One of the most refined aspects of In the Moscow Slums is the strong visual effects by Vadim Kasse (Coma, The Master and Margarita). The visual effects are superb and look far bigger in budget than audiences might expect to discover. The In the Moscow Slums visual effects add plenty of charm and style that is otherwise lost without the creativity of the effects team. These aspects help bring forth a wider canvas to the production sets and the effects are often well-integrated to make this feel like a big budget Sherlock Holmes adventure with more in common with the action-adventures by director Guy Ritchie than first meets the eye.

The stunts coordinated by Ivan Shakhnazarov add to the action-packed fun, too. The stunt team helped provide some surprising action scenes the extra energy requisite or a home run. These scenes play well and take a page from old-school adventure serials.

Edited by Irina Kozhemyakina (Ward No. 6, Vanished Empire), In the Moscow Slums is a well-paced gem. The editing is top-notch. There are no lulls in the filmmaking where the editorial process seems to be an oversight. The flow of the film is charming and the mystery and action scenes are well-intertwined with In the Moscow Slums making a solid impression as a Sherlock Holmes adventure.

The score composed by Yuriy Poteenko (Night Watch, Dark Planet) is charming fun. The music brings a sense of life to the adventure and the journey of the characters. The score is whimsical and this is the perfect accompaniment for this Sherlock Holmes adaptation.

Directed by Karen Shakhnazarov (Zerograd, White Tiger), In the Moscow Slums is a must-see Russian take on Sherlock Holmes. In the Moscow Slums deftly blends Russian history and characters in with Sherlock Holmes staples. The end result is a unique take on Sherlock Holmes and one that fans of previous adaptations of the character will gravitate towards – especially fans of the Robert Downey Jr. and Benedict Cumberbatch interpretations of the character.

With a strong screenplay by Karen Shakhnazarov and co-screenwriters Elena Podrez and Ekaterina Kochetkova, In the Moscow Slums is thrilling old-fashioned entertainment – the kind to kick-back and relax to on a beautiful afternoon. A great watch for Sherlock Holmes fans. Don’t miss this gem by the great Shakhnazarov.

In the Moscow Slums Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Deaf Crocodile, In the Moscow Slums is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The Blu-ray presentation provides a superb and crystal-clear high-definition transfer of the modern feature production. The sleek cinematography is highlighted well on the release and the vibrancy of the visuals and the colors help the filmmaking soar to greater heights. The encode quality is top-notch and easily will best anything on streaming.

In the Moscow Slums Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in Russian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound. The lossless, high-resolution audio sounds crisp and clear for the presentation. The dialogue is well reproduced and highlighted on the release. Clarity is engaging throughout the entire feature-film. The score sounds beautiful and is well-highlighted by the encode. The end result is fantastic and there is so much worth appreciating. What a joyous and engaging lossless audio mix. The audio quality is sure to satisfy home theater enthusiasts and audiophiles alike. The end result is an audio presentation sure to please the most discerning of enthusiasts. One of the things most engaging about the audio is also the 5.1 mix, which has great energy and dynamics. The surrounds were actively used throughout the film and it surprised with a stunning surround sound mix that exceeded every expectation. Top-notch and the mixing added so much to the sense of adventure.

In the Moscow Slums Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release is available in both a limited edition version (exclusively available on the Deaf Crocodile web store) and the standard edition. The limited edition version features a gorgeous chipboard art-box with fantastic artwork. The release also comes with a nice booklet accompanying the film. The set looks so luxurious in hand and feels like a true premium product. Collectors will love the release and cherish adding it to their collection. The standard edition comes in a clear case. The standard edition is packaged inside of the deluxe limited edition art-box. Deaf Crocodile understands the important of physical media having gorgeous artwork and high-end packaging to make a release even more special in hand – which serves as a reminder of the physical and tangible element of collecting. It is nice to hold in person and display on the shelf.

Deaf Crocodile releases include an inserted QR code card. The QR code card provides a link to additional transcribed bonus content for each release. Once you follow the QR code with your smartphone or smart device, the device will provide you with a link to more transcribed bonus content.

No Stranger Than Human Nature – Theater, History, and Mystery (HD, 23:03) is an in-depth visual essay completed by Dr. Will Dodson and Ryan Verrill.

From Sherlock Holmes to Method Acting: Strolling Through Khitrovka (HD, 18:03) explores the mystery and style of the feature in this visual essay featuring insights by Evan Chester.

Interview with director Karen Shaknazarov (HD, 45:10) by Deaf Crocodile's Dennis Bartok.

Interview with Gayane Ambartsumyan, head of Mosfilm Public Relations (HD, 1:07:27) is an extensive discussion about Mosfilm. The extended interview with Ambartsumyan was completed by Deaf Crocodile's Dennis Bartok.

Trailer #1 (HD, 2:04)

Trailer #2 (HD, 2:18)

Teaser Trailer (HD, 00:59)

In the Moscow Slums Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

In the Moscow Slums is a thrilling Sherlock Holmes adventure infused with Russian history and style. The action-adventure has plenty of thrills and excitement for Sherlock Holmes fans and should be considered a must-see for fans of the famous sleuth detective. The Blu-ray release features gorgeous packaging and artwork. The set also comes jam-packed to the brim with incredible supplements – adding so much value to an already fantastic package by Deaf Crocodile. Highly recommended.