Gogol. The Beginning

Set in 1829, this mystery thriller follows Nikolay Gogol, a young clerk in Saint Petersburg who suffers from seizures. These episodes produce visions that provide clues to unsolved crimes. Investigator Yakov Guro recognizes this utility and recruits Gogol to help solve a series of murders involving young women in the village of Dikanka. As they investigate the local disappearances and a feared dark rider, Gogol encounters supernatural entities and a woman who becomes central to his life.

The film was directed by Egor Baranov, marking his second project after The Honored Priest: Confession of a Samurai. It is the first in a sequence of films by Baranov that includes Gogol. Viy and Gogol. A Terrible Vengeance. The production features Alexander Petrov in the title role alongside Oleg Menshikov as Guro, with supporting performances by Yan Tsapnik, Taisiya Vilkova, Yuliya Frants, and Sergey Badyuk.

Produced by Sreda, the movie earned 8 million USD at the worldwide box office. Audience reception is mixed, with a rating of 5.8/10 on IMDb from 2,300 votes and a slightly higher score of 6.2/10 on TMDB based on 113 votes.