A Russian immigrant chases the American Dream straight into a nightmare—73 minutes, zero mercy.
The thrilling story of a lonely Russian immigrant trying to find the "American dream" in present day Los Angeles. To provide care for his dying sister he works as an assistant to a mysterious and dangerous man, but his desire to achieve something more takes him down a dark and risky path. When a seductive call girl enters his life his world is thrown upside down and the choices he makes may have deadly consequences.
Acting
Kievsky's exhausted desperation feels uncomfortably authentic.
Direction
Mah squeezes maximum dread from minimal budget.
Cinematography
LA becomes a fluorescent purgatory of strip malls.
Director
Nicholas Mah
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The title 'Sobaka' means 'dog' in Russian—referencing both loyalty and being treated like an animal.
Shot during the 2007-2008 financial crisis, it captures a specific moment when immigrant hustle met economic collapse.
US
