The Mechanik (2005)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Dolph Lundgren

Writers:

Bryan Edward Hill (screenplay)
Dolph Lundgren (story)

Release Date:

2 November 2006 (United Arab Emirates)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

They took his family. Now he's out for revenge.

Plot:

Nick Cherenko used to be a Spetznaz (Russian Special Forces), but now he lives peaceful with his wife and child...

Plot Keywords:

Vengeance | Revenge | Ex Soldier | Murder Of Family | Death Of Family

Cast

Dolph Lundgren	...	Nikolai Cherenko
Ben Cross	...	William Burton
Ivan Petrushinov	...	Aleksandr 'Sasha' Popov
Olivia Lee	...	Julia Abramoff
Raicho Vasilev	...	Achmed (as Raicho Vassilev)
Assen Blatechki	...	Yuri
Antony Argirov	...	Serie
Valeri Yordanov	...	Alexi
Dejan Angelov	...	Pavel
Ivaylo Geraskov	...	Leo (as Ivailo Geraskov)
Hilda van der Meulen	...	Alina Cherenko
Naum Shopov	...	Vanya Cherenko
Atanas Srebrev	...	John Ridley (as Nasko Srebrev)
Levana Finkelstein	...	Mary Abramoff
Nikolai Sotirov	...	Victor Chertoff
Emil Markov	...	Misha
Marianne Stanicheva	...	Alla
Teodor Yordanov	...	Vladimir
Alexander Tsitkilov	...	Pushkin
Anastasia Panayotova	...	Hooker
Barry Evans	...	Barry
Rushi Vidinliev	...	Taxi Driver
Maria Ilieva	...	Natalya
Nickolay Hadjiminev	...	Garage Boss
Nikolay Georgiev	...	Thug
Yoanna Boukovska	...	Counter Girl
Stefan Ivanov	...	Doorman (Guard) 1
Chavdar Simeonov	...	Doorman (Guard) 2
Veneta Harizanova	...	Cocaine Girlfriend
Slavi Slavov	...	Nevski
Kiril Efremov	...	Man 1
Stefan Shterev	...	Man 2
Valentin Burski	...	German Man 1
Velizar Binev	...	The German
Diyan Machev	...	Dimitri
Andrey Slabakov	...	Gypsy Father
Asen Mutafchiev	...	Luda (Child)
Victor Boichev	...	Doctor
Monika Ivanova	...	Masha (Child)
Nikoleta Stoicheva	...	Luva (Child)
Stanimir Stamatov	...	Thug #4
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lubo Ganev

Directed by
Dolph Lundgren

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Bryan Edward Hill		screenplay
Dolph Lundgren		story

Produced by
Boaz Davidson	....	executive producer
Danny Dimbort	....	executive producer
Ewerhard Engels	....	executive producer (as Ewerhard Ed Engels)
Jack Gilardi Jr.	....	executive producer
Anton Hoeger	....	producer
Avi Lerner	....	executive producer
Scott Putman	....	producer
Trevor Short	....	executive producer
David Varod	....	producer

Original Music by
Elia Cmiral

Cinematography by
Ross W. Clarkson

Film Editing by
Joe Plenys

Casting by
Marianne Stanicheva
Jeremy Zimmerman

Production Design by
Carlos Silva Da Silva		(as Carlos Da Silva)

Set Decoration by
Nina Ruseva

Costume Design by
Marta Mironska

Production Management
Todd Gilbert	....	post-production supervisor
Alexander Peytchev	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Bennett	....	first assistant director
Kiril Dimitrov	....	trainee assistant director
Petya Evtimova	....	second assistant director
Kalina Krasteva	....	third assistant director
Nanyo Minchev	....	second second assistant director
Mark Roper	....	second unit director

Art Department
Borislav Belberov	....	stand-by props
Yasen Denev	....	illustrator
Anna Hadzhieva	....	art department coordinator
Alexei Karagyaur	....	graphic designer
Sonya Savova	....	draftsperson
Dora Somova	....	stand-by props
Rosen Stefanov	....	set dresser
Evgeni Yordanov	....	carpentry foreman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ezra Dweck	....	sound re-recording mixer
Nick Foley	....	adr recordist
Marc Glassman	....	sound effects editor
Anthony Krajchir	....	sound engineer
Valery Metodiev	....	boom operator
Ivaylo Natzev	....	location sound mixer: second unit
Gabriel J. Serrano	....	sound engineer

Special Effects by
Willie Botha	....	special effects supervisor
Ivo Jivkov	....	special effects supervisor
Stefan Razlojki	....	armourer
Marten Ruskov	....	special effects crew

Visual Effects by
Simeon Asenov	....	visual effects supervisor
Scott Coulter	....	visual effects producer
Tinko Dimov	....	digital artist
Stanislav Dragiev	....	visual effects supervisor on location
Steven Fagerquist	....	digital compositor
Emil Georgiev	....	model maker
Velislava Gospodinova	....	digital effects compositor
Danail Hadzhiyski	....	on set visual effects supervisor
Velichko Ivanov	....	digital compositor
Peter Keranov	....	digital compositor
Danail Lazarov	....	assistant visual effects editor
Jordan Markov	....	visual effects editor
Wolfgang Maschin	....	digital compositor
Velislava Mihailova	....	digital effects artist
Milena Peneva	....	visual effects coordinator
Nick Peshunoff	....	visual effects coordinator
Shero Rauf	....	digital artist
Krasimir Rizov	....	visual effects illustrator
Nikola Simeonov	....	lead 3D artist
Stefan Tchakarov	....	visual effects production supervisor
Filip Uzunov	....	digital effects artist
Alexander Valev	....	lead digital artist
John L. Weckworth	....	digital compositor
Borislava Zahova	....	visual effects
Vladimir Zdravkov	....	visual effects technical support
Francisco Chaigneau	....	digital effects artist (uncredited)
Leo Vezzali	....	digital compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
Georgi Dimitrov	....	stunts
Ivailo Dimitrov	....	stunts
Dian Hristov	....	lead stunt double
Radoslav Ignatov	....	stunts
Danko Jordanov	....	stunt double
George Karlukovski	....	stunt actor
Georgi Manchev	....	stunts
Asen Marinov	....	stunts
Trayan Milenov-Troy	....	stunts
Radoslav Parvanov	....	stunts
Velizar Peev	....	stunts
Elitsa Rajeva	....	stunt double
Krasimir Simeonov	....	stunts
Stanimir Stamatov	....	stunts
Georgi Stanislavov	....	stunts
Vencislav Stojanov	....	stunts
Teodor Tsolov	....	stunts
Kaloian Vodenicharov	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Mihail Apostolov	....	best boy grip
Anton Bakarski	....	camera operator
Andrej Certov	....	camera operator
Ross W. Clarkson	....	Steadicam operator
Ross W. Clarkson	....	camera operator
Steven J. Winslow	....	aerial camera technician: Wescam camera
Yavor Zahariev	....	gaffer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jasmina Vasileva-Stoichkova	....	costumer: Mr. Lundgren (as Jasmina Vasileva)

Editorial Department
Julius Friede	....	digital intermediate colorist
Sarah Parker	....	post-production coordinator
Jon Pehlke	....	on-line editor
Todor G. Todorov	....	colorist
Charlie Variyski	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Selena Arizanovic	....	music coordinator
Elia Cmiral	....	orchestrator
Elia Cmiral	....	score programmer
Ashley Miller	....	executive in charge of music
David G. Russell	....	musical programmer: synthesizer & percussion
Michael D. Simon	....	music score assistant
John Whynot	....	score mixer

Other crew
Rachel Abarbanell	....	production coordinator: Los Angeles
Prince Bagdasarian	....	film and media coordinator
Andra Barbuica	....	script supervisor
Donald Bruce	....	production controller
Kiril Dimitrov	....	production assistant
Barry Evans	....	fight consultant
Kalina Kottas	....	production accountant
Violeta Piperevska	....	assistant production coordinator
Susan Pusateri	....	assistant: Avi Lerner (as Sue Pusateri)
Cara Sanderson	....	assistant to director
Joost Scholte	....	production assistant
Shelly Stoyanova	....	script supervisor: second unit
Rick Lipton	....	dialogue coach: Olivia Lee, pre-production (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Höger Human Service Medien & Personal GmbH
• Martien Holdings A.V.V.
• Nu Image Films

Distributors

• Nu Image Films (2005) (worldwide) (all media)
• Big Time Entertainment (2006) (Japan) (DVD)
• Bridge Entertainment Group (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• DNC Entertainment (2008) (UK) (DVD)
• Filmax Home Video (2006) (Spain) (video)
• Flashstar Home Vídeo (2006) (Brazil) (video)
• GAGA (2006) (Japan) (DVD)
• Gaumont/Columbia TriStar Home Video (GCTHV) (2006) (France) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (video)
• Magic Box (2007) (Czech Republic) (DVD)
• Martien Holdings A.V.V.
• Ninth Dimension Home Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (DVD)
• Odeon (2005) (Greece) (video)
• Opening Distribution (2006) (France) (DVD)
• Pyramid Home Video (2005) (Russia) (video)
• Roadshow Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Worldwide FX

Other Companies

• Hollywood Intermediate  digital intermediate services
• Pictorvision  aerial camera system

Also Known As:

The Russian Specialist (Canada: English title) (DVD title) (USA) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong bloody violence, language, some sexuality and drug use.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

Russian | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Netherlands:16 | Australia:MA | Germany:18 (JK/SPIO) | Singapore:NC-16 | Canada:14A | New Zealand:R16 | Finland:K-15 | UK:15 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Bulgaria

Company:

Höger Human Service Medien & Personal GmbH

Trivia:

Principal photography took place during 32 days.

Goofs:

Continuity: In some scenes the registrations of the cars are Russian, in others they are Bulgarian.

Quotes:

Natalya: Men know how to kill, women how to survive.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Making of 'The Mechanik' (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Do I

The Punisher goes to Russia!

Dolph's first directing effort, The Defender, was a nice little action piece. Granted, the movie was low budget, but there was enough enthusiasm and excitement to make it worthwhile.

The Russian Specialist,aka The Mechanik, as it should be called; is a distinct step UP for Dolph. His direction is incredibly assured for someone who's only directed one other movie.

I won't go into story specifics here because everybody already knows what this about. However, I will go into the production and performances.

Dolph has changed as an actor. He's matured, he's confident in his skin. That is half the battle, and he wins bigtime.

Ben Cross is the comedy relief/dramatic Brit. He's one of the film's better assets.

The rest of the performers are more than adequate. The villains in particular, are slimy and nasty. It's a good thing they're slaughtered in such a brutal fashion!!! The script for this film, while hardly original, is pretty good for low budget fare like this. It pushes all the right buttons at the right time. The dialog is also quite good.

Dolph, the director, is in very good form. His style is loose and fluid. Think Tony Scott meets John Woo and you're on the right track.

The score by Elia Cmiral is haunting when it needs to be and tense when the crap hits the fan. Which brings us to the action set pieces.

Although they're not numerous, the action scenes are well done and VIOLENT! Dolph pulls no punches with this flick. The deaths come fast, hard and furious! Overall, this little film is quite good. I eagerly await the next Dolph film. To those who have not checked out this film and The Defender, I recommend you do so.