His Nickname Is Beast

Savely Govorkov returns from Afghanistan to a Russia in Perestroika ruled by crime mobs. He is approached by Alik to become Larissa's bodyguard because of his honesty and similarity to her dead brother. He initially refuses but changes his mind after witnessing how poorly Larissa is treated, setting up the assignment.

Alik orders Govorkov to monitor Larissa around the clock, with a single exception—the Tuesdays with a mysterious professor who gives her Korean lessons. Govorkov starts the surveillance, trying to stay unseen while protecting her from harm. The arrangement plants the seeds of a conflicted loyalty.

During a cinema outing, Larissa manipulates Govorkov and escapes, leaving a message that she will marry Ricardo and flee to Italy. Govorkov realizes he has been used and that her departure would end the job and his safety. The event exposes the manipulation behind the surveillance.

Govorkov learns that his best friend Victor Varlamov is wanted for murder after a close-guarded incident protecting Alik. Alik makes a deal with the police to keep Varlamov out of jail but keeps his file in a safe as leverage. Varlamov is effectively held hostage by Alik’s machinations.

Govorkov saves Alik's cashier Vladimir Andreyevich from a robbery and is assigned to deliver cash to Alik's Saint Petersburg branch. He hides the money and uses the opportunity to blackmail Alik into releasing Varlamov in exchange for the funds. The plan sets Govorkov on a collision course with Alik's power structure.

Govorkov visits Larissa and is ambushed by Alik, who kidnaps her. He forces Govorkov to reveal the hideout of the money, only to discover it has been burned by one of Alik's henchmen. The kidnapping sharpens the conflict between Govorkov and Alik.

Enraged, Alik forces Govorkov to plead guilty to money laundering and has Larissa sent to a madhouse. Govorkov is left to face the consequences of the scheme while Larissa loses her freedom. The betrayal deepens as both are trapped by the crime lord’s power.

Govorkov arrives at Tayga jail and refuses to bow to correction officers or hardened cellmates. Trained by Captain Shlikov and hardened by his upbringing, he is taken under the wing of the local crime lord 'King', who commands respect from both sides of the law. The new environment tests his resolve.

It is revealed that Varlamov has been murdered and two assassins, Ugriumov and Danilin, have been dispatched to kill Govorkov. In a dramatic turn, the crime lord 'King' is released to speed up the hit, and Govorkov narrowly escapes via a supplies train. Ugriumov dies of his wounds, Danilin dies from a late jump, and the truth about the killer behind it all—'The Korean'—emerges.

Back in Moscow, Govorkov confronts Alik, who reveals that 'The Korean' is his boss and the person himself is Vladimir Andreyevich—the cashier Govorkov had saved earlier. The revelation ties the earlier rescue to the broader criminal network. Govorkov steels himself for the looming confrontation.

Govorkov encounters 'The Korean' during his daughter's wedding and attempts to bribe him, which fails. The Korean agrees to take Govorkov to Larissa, setting a path to rescue her. The uneasy alliance underlines the complex web of loyalties.

In a tense parking-lot confrontation, Govorkov is ambushed by security guards led by Shlikov. He defeats them and hurls Shlikov off a bridge, escaping police pursuit. The Korean tries to flee but is electrocuted by the pursuing officers, ending his threat.

Govorkov finally reaches the madhouse where Larissa is kept. Though she is in a frail mental state, her recognition of Govorkov’s kind, soft voice gives her a glimmer of hope for a better future. The two characters reconnect after a long and dangerous ordeal.