The Last Warrior: Root of Evil

The film opens with the campaign of Ivan and the band of legendary heroes, led by Finist — the strongest among them — who chase a threat plaguing the village cattle. The crew captures the monster, only to discover it is actually Kolobok in disguise, a cunning adversary who has been sowing trouble for the locals. Ivan returns to a mansion infused with sleek, modern technology, a stark contrast to the rugged rhythms of Ancient Rus’. He longs to move to modern Moscow with Vasilisa, yet she does not share his dream or his longing for a different life.

Belogorye hosts a competition to crown the season’s greatest hero, and the field quickly narrows as all contestants fail the demanding obstacle course—except for Ivan, who decides to push past the jests aimed at him and Finist’s flirty winks toward Vasilisa. His port of choice to Moscow remains blocked by a stubborn treasure sword’s magic, and he must solve the puzzle with wit and resourcefulness when the device that powers the portal falters. Just as victory seems near, Varvara and Galina arrive to seize the treasure sword from [Ivan], weaving a dark spell that brings living roots to swallow the village. A fierce clash ensues, and the old guard of heroes, joined by [Finist] and [Kolobok], manages to slip away, staying one step ahead of the encroaching threat.

Parallel to these events unfolds a long-ago tale: an orphan girl and a peasant woman who dare to help her despite a dangerous witch’s flower, only to fall under a malignant power that cannot be cured. The tale deepens with Baba Yaga, who reveals a history tied to a legendary immortality attempt by Belogor, a treasure sword, and a student who betrayed his master to become Koschey the Immortal. The dark force endures as Rogoleb, an entity born from rooted magic, seeks to rebound to life through the sword. Only Galina and Varvara survive the possessive onslaught, and the wandering heroes must convince Koschey that salvation lies in reclaiming the sword from the land of the dead. To reach that realm, they ride a whale-like creature, a feat that lets [Finist] shine once again and confirms Ivan’s ingenuity when he steals Baba Yaga’s magic power berry to feign heroic strength.

Arriving at the gate of the land of the dead, [Ivan] deceives the guard and descends to retrieve Koschey, where he encounters not only the villain but also Koschey’s father, recently slain by Rogoleb. Returning from the underworld, Koschey warns that Rogoleb can only be defeated by cutting the stone beneath which the treasure chest once rested. On the journey back, Ivan begins to exhaust the berry’s power, his bravado fading as the group presses on. A pause at a rest stop rekindles the treasure’s magic, and morning brings a brutal assault: Varvara’s forces close in, Finist is mortally wounded, and Ivan, lacking amplifiers, is forced to retreat, leaving the sword in Varvara’s grasp. A rift grows between Ivan and Vasilisa, but a sudden surge of magic restores the treasure’s strength just as hope seems dim.

The final confrontation pits Ivan, [Kolobok], and Chudo-Yudo against Rogoleb, while the others and the recovering Finist struggle against Varvara’s renewed assault. In a pivotal moment, Kolobok consumes Varvara, who has taken on an owl’s guise, and Koschey realizes too late that the sword’s cut cannot kill Rogoleb—doing so instead frees the ancient monster from the root-bound prison. Rogoleb’s return shakes the landscape as he binds and buries Baba Yaga and the others in the earth. He even menaces Ivan, testing his resolve and purpose.

A whispered memory of Ivan’s late father sparks a turning point: he chooses what he truly lives for, and the heroic strength awakens within him. With [Finist] and [Kolobok] at his side, Ivan confronts Rogoleb as the monster’s power drains from the ground itself. He carves open space with the treasure sword and propels Rogoleb into modern Moscow, where the earth has given way to asphalt and concrete. The monster dies, and Ivan’s buried friends are freed from their darkened tombs. As the dust settles, [Svetozar] drives away and chases Galina, while Ivan seizes the moment to propose to [Vasilisa].

Post-credits scenes tease darker design: Galina seeks out the Great Darkness for power by diving into a black lake, and a long-ago chapter reveals that Ilya Muromets lived with his wife Galya—the same girl Rogoleb bewitched—hinting at a future sequel that could broaden this saga’s magical lore.

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 04:07