History Film / MajorGromPlagueDoctor

* WoundedGazelleGambit: Used for getting information from Major Grom.

** Igor Gromov, while still a CowboyCop who isn't afraid to rough up suspects, is a lot more methodical in his approach and a lot less needlessly aggressive (saving violence for stubborn doors and people who truly deserve it). He also has soft side that barely appears in the comics: he has a father-son relationship with Fedor Prokopenko, looks out for a troubled orphan boy, and cares for a stray dog.

* FailedASpotCheck: When Grom visits the very drunk Razumovsky, he somehow fails to see Oleg appearing right beside him. [[spoiler:Subverted seconds later, when it's revealed that Oleg is a figment of Razumovsky's imagination; of course Gromov doesn't see him.]]

* KnightInSourArmor: Both Gromov and Pchelkina are pragmatic in their methods and disillusioned with the world around them, but at their cores, they're idealists who believe wholeheartedly in people who have earned their trust.

* NotSoDifferentRemark: Gromov justifies his CowboyCop ways: he can't play by the rules to catch criminals that don't play by the rules; [[ByTheBookCop Dubin]] asks him what differentiates him from them. Gromov replies that [[ThouShaltNotKill he doesn't kill people]].

* StudentAndMasterTeam: Gromov and Dubin are forced to cooperate.

** Igor Gromov, while still a CowboyCop who isn't afraid to rough up suspects, is a lot more methodical in his approach and a less needlessly aggressive (saving violence for stubborn doors and people who truly deserve it). He also has soft side that barely appears in the comics: he has a father-son relationship with , looks out for a troubled orphan boy, and cares for a stray dog.

* AdaptationalEarlyAppearance: [[spoiler: In the Bubble Comics story, Razumovsky's SplitPersonalty, the Plague Doctor, doesn't truly emerge until the story's epilogue, "Metamorphosis"; prior to that, "the Plague Doctor" is just a fake persona that Razumovsky uses to commit his public crimes. In the film, however, the Plague Doctor alter ego emerges after Kirill Grechkin is acquitted of murder (though he initially takes the form of Oleg Volkov, Razumovsky's long-time friend).]]
** Speaking of Oleg, he isn't introduced in the comics until far later in the series' run; in the movie, he's introduced in Razumovsky's first scene.

** In the comics, [[spoiler: Razumovsky's]] plan to "cleanse" St. Petersburg involves rounding up the city's petty criminals and low-lifes and killing them in a maze of elaborate ''Franchise/{{Saw}}''-style death traps; the Plague Doctor's M.O. (i.e. killing rich, corrupt elites) is just a cover for getting rid of his compatriots, so they don't rat him out. In the movie, however, the Plague Doctor's motives are genuine, and fairly straightforward (aside from the plan to allow the government to declare martial law and imprison or kill his followers once they [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness outlive their usefulness]]).
*** Because the "death trap maze" element is removed from the story, the film's final act is also completely altered: instead of Igor Grom being held captive by [[spoiler: Razumovsky]] and forced to navigate his maze alone after being drugged with a lethal dose of analgesic drug, the film has Grom facing the Plague Doctor in the maze-like server rooms of Vmeste headquarters, with the help of Yulia and Dima.
** In the comics, Kirill Grechkin is the son of a city prosecutor, and his crime involved accidentally killing two teenagers a year prior; in the film, he killed an orphaned girl from the same orphanage Razumovsky and Oleg Volkov once lived in during a DUI incident -- thus making his acquittal a personal matter [[spoiler: for Razumovsky, and spurning him to action]].
** The comics involve a sequence where Grom visits a brothel frequented by Gretchkin looking for clues, and ends up fighting the brothel's owners once he gets too aggressive while questioning Gretchkin's favorite escort. This part is entirely absent from the film, replaced with a montage of Grom kicking in doors and roughing up witnesses.

** In the comics, Razumovsky's plan to "cleanse" St. Petersburg involves rounding up the city's petty criminals and low-lifes and killing them in a maze of elaborate ''Franchise/{{Saw}}''-style death traps; the Plague Doctor's M.O. (i.e. killing rich, corrupt elites) is just a cover for getting rid of his compatriots, so they don't rat him out. In the movie, however, the Plague Doctor's motives are genuine, and fairly straightforward (aside from the plan to allow the government to declare martial law and imprison or kill his followers once they [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness outlive their usefulness]]).
** In the comics, Kirill Grechkin is the son of a city prosecutor, and his crime involved accidentally killing two teenagers a year prior; in the film, he killed an orphaned girl from the same orphanage Razumovsky and Oleg Volkov once lived in during a DUI incident -- thus making his acquittal a personal matter for Razumovsky, and spurning him to action.

%%* TheConfidant: Naturally, as an OnlyFriend Volkov is this to Razumovsky.

* KillHimAlready: Averted - the characters acknowledge that the Plague Doctor would become an InspirationalMartyr.

%%* MotiveRant: Plenty of them, as [[spoiler: the antagonist has a SplitPersonality and the "evil" side has trouble convincing the "good" side.]]

* TheReveal: A ''pileup'' of those.

%%* ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney: A mentality that most characters (not only the antagonist) dislike with varying degrees of passion.

%%* SplitPersonalityTakeover: Happens for the finale.

%%* TakingYouWithMe: [[spoiler:Razumovsky]] tries to pull this after learning about the existence of his EnemyWithin.
%%* TalkingToThemself: Initially, [[spoiler:Razumovsky]] doesn't even realize that he's doing that.
%%* ToBeLawfulOrGood: Discussed constantly; the characters who struggle with this dilemma the most are Dubin and Razumovsky.

%%* VillainousBreakdown: HeelRealization will do that to you.

''Major Grom: Plague Doctor'' is a 2021 Russian action film based on the first arc of the comic book series ''Major Grom'' by the Russian publisher Bubble Comics. It follows the determined police major Igor "[[InSeriesNickname Grom]]" Gromov hunting down a vicious masked vigilante who calls themselves the Plague Doctor.

** The end credits are also animated, but in a doodly style, are set to an upbeat song and depict Igor Gromov [[RuleOfFunny beating up the movie's crew]] as their names appear onscreen. Then it switches to a regular credits roll.
* BathtubScene: Gromov has a short one; it was absolutely unnecessary, but no one is complaining.

* FailedASpotCheck: When Gromov visits the very drunk Razumovsky, he somehow fails to see Oleg appearing right beside him. [[spoiler:Subverted seconds later, when it's revealed that Oleg is a figment of Razumovsky's imagination; of course Gromov doesn't see him.]]

* FakeActionPrologue: Not one but ''two'' scenes. Both times they're cut short after an undesirable end by Gromov's [[{{Catchphrase}} "Think, think!"]] and rewound, as they're merely possibilities that he imagines. After a few times, he'll find an optimal solution, say something like "Nothing to think about", and rush into action for real.
* FiveSecondForeshadowing: Visiting Razumovsky for the second time, Gromov [[FailedASpotCheck somehow fails to see]] Oleg appearing right beside him; this looks like an OutOfCharacterMoment for the usually observant Gromov. Seconds later, it is revealed that [[spoiler:Gromov really can't see Oleg because Oleg is Razumovsky's hallucination.]]

* InSeriesNickname: Gromov's last name is shortened to "Grom" ("thunder" in Russian) in the title of Pchelkina's videos to empathize AwesomeMcCoolname even further.

* JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope: The Plague Doctor starts off as a WellIntentionedExtremist. Then, kills a child along with his parent.

* LeadPoliceDetective: Igor Gromov and Evgeny Strelkov; naturally they bump heads.
* MaliciousSlander: [[spoiler:Razumovsky puts Gromov in the Plague Doctor costume, leaves him in a crime scene, and plants evidence in his apartment.]]

* ShirtlessScene: When Dubin visits Gromov in his apartment, the latter is shirtless the entire time.

** As Gromov applies the JackBauerInterrogationTechnique to one thug after the other, the song in the background cheerfully repeats, "I love people," adding to the BlackComedy.

** [[spoiler:Razumovsky]]'s "evil" side is called "the Bird," and the "good" side is called "the Doormat," because "the Bird" hoards most of the confidence and aggression. This comes from the comic book series the movie is based on.

* FakeActionPrologue: Not one but ''two'' scenes. Both times they're cut short after an undesirable end by Gromov's [[{{Catchphrase}} "Think, think!"]] and rewound, as they're merely possibilities that he imagines. After a few times, he'll find an optimal solution, say something like "Nothing to think about," and rush into action for real.
* FiveSecondForeshadowing: Visiting Razumovsky for the second time, Gromov [[FailedASpotCheck somehow fails to see]] Oleg appearing right beside him; this looks like an OutOfCharacterMoment for the usually observant Gromov. Seconds later, it is revealed that [[spoiler:Gromov really can't see Oleg because Oleg is Razumovsky's halluciantion.]]

* ImaginaryFriend: [[spoiler:Oleg. The man we see for most of the movie is actually a figment of Razumovsky's imagination; the real Oleg is presumed dead though the second stinger shows him alive in Syria.]]

** Strelkov, the unpleasant PerpetualSmiler, is accompanied by the sweet old song about friendly smiles making the world a better place.

** As Gromov applies the JackBauerInterrogationTechnique to one thugs after the other, the song in the background cheerfully repeats, "I love people."
** Strelkov, the unpleasant PerpetualSmiler, is accompanied by a sweet old song where friendly smiles make the world a better place.

** In the first post-credits scene, "the Bird" takes the shape of a ''humanoid black-feathered bird with a human face''.

''Major Grom: Plague Doctor'' is a 2021 Russian action film based on the first arc of the comic book series ''Major Grom'' by the Russian publisher Bubble Comics. It follows the determined police major Igor Grom hunting down a vicious masked vigilante who calls themselves the Plague Doctor.

* AllThereInTheManual: The creators have a series of podcasts on [=YouTube=], one of which is just the writers answering the fans' questions. For example, it's stated that Dubin and Pchelkina [[spoiler: entered the Vmeste HQ through the fire exit, and that's where they got the firehose and the fire extinguisher that appear in the final battle.]]

* InSeriesNickname: Borrowed from the comic books: [[spoiler:Razumovsky]]'s "good" side is called "the Rag" (literal translation) or "the Doormat" (holds the same meaning as the original in English) due to the "evil" side hoarding most of the confidence and assertiveness.

* TheIntern: We see Dima Dubin come in for his first day at the police station.

** The end credits are also animated, but in a doodly style, are set to an upbeat song and depict Igor Grom [[{{RuleOfFunny}} beating up the movie's crew]] as their names appear on screen. Then it switches to a regular credits roll.
* BathtubScene: Grom has a short one; it was absolutely unnesessary, but no one is complaining.

** One of the stickers on Ignat "Booster"'s door reads "Do not enter without a mask".....[[{{FunnyAneurysmMoment}} The film was shot in 2019.]]

* BlondeBrunetteRedhead: Grom has dark hair, Dubin is blond and Pchelkina has bright apple red hair.

* TheConfidant: Naturally, as an OnlyFriend Volkov is this to Razumovsky.
* DramaticUnmask: Early on, [[spoiler: Volkov]] dramatically pulls off the Plague Doctor mask. [[spoiler: This turns out to be [[{{SplitPersonality}} not quite the reveal.]]]]

* EngineeredPublicConfession: Before the final fight, [[spoiler: Pchelkina hugs Grom and discreetly sticks a bug on his jacket, so even he didn't know that Razumovsky's final MotiveRant was recorded.]]
* FailureGambit: [[spoiler: Once the Plague Doctor is captured, he activates the explosives in the evidence storage room of the police station and posts a video encouraging his followers to riot in the streets; see YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness for details.]]
* FakeActionPrologue: Not one but ''two'' scenes turn out to be this; both times they're cut short after an undesirable end by Grom's [[{{Catchphrase}} "Think, think!"]] and rewinded, as they're merely possibilities that Grom imagines. After a few times, he'll find an optimal solution, say something like "Nothing to think about" and rush into action for real.

* InSeriesNickname: Borrowed from the comic books: [[spoiler: Razumovsky]]'s "good" side is called "the Rag" (literal translation) or "the Doormat" (holds the same meaning as the original in English) due to the "evil" side hoarding most of the confidence and assertiveness.

* JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope: The Plague Doctor when they [[spoiler: kill a child along with his parent]] and cross the MoralEventHorizon in the eyes of [[spoiler: Sergey Razumovsky.]]

* KnightInSourArmor: Both Grom and Pchelkina are pragmatic in their methods and disillusioned with the world around them, but at their cores they're idealists who believe wholeheartedly into people who have earned their trust.
* LonelyBachelorPad: A run-down studio, with no food in the fridge except for a rotten apple and a can of whipped cream. Pchelkina even points out that the bathroom has no door.
* LeadPoliceDetective: Igor Grom and Evgeny Strelkov; naturally they bump heads.
* MaliciousSlander: [[spoiler: Razumovsky puts Grom in the Plague Doctor costume, leaves him in a crime scene, and plants evidence in his apartment.]]
* MoodWhiplash: The comedic action scene in the beginning is followed by the [[{{AnimatedCreditsOpening}} chilling opening credits.]]
* MotiveRant: Plenty of them, as [[spoiler: the antagonist has a SplitPersonality and the "evil" side has trouble convincing the "good" side.]]

* ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney: A mentality that most characters (not only the antagonist) dislike with varying degrees of passion.
* ShirtlessScene: When Dubin visits Grom in his apartment, the latter is shirtless the entire time.

** In the first post-credits scene, "the Bird" takes the shape of a ''humanoid black-feathered bird with a human face''. That's where the nickname came from.
* SplitPersonalityTakeover: Happens for the finale.

** In the first one, [[spoiler: Razumovsky]] is shown in a mental hospital, listening to his dark side.
** In the second one, [[spoiler: Volkov is revealed to be alive.]]
* StudentAndMasterTeam: Grom and Dubin are forced to cooperate.
* {{Superhero}}: Lampshaded by Grom, who jokes that referring to him as "Major Grom" is making him a superhero he isn't. Yulia Pchelkina then says that "a superhero is not the guy with superpowers, but the guy who defeats the supervillain".
* TakingYouWithMe: [[spoiler: Razumovsky]] tries to pull this after learning about the existence of his EnemyWithin.
* TalkingToThemself: Initially, [[spoiler: Razumovsky]] doesn't even realize that he's doing that.
* ToBeLawfulOrGood: Discussed constantly; the characters who struggle with this dilemma the most are Dubin and Razumovsky.

* VillainousBreakdown: HeelRealization will do that to you.
* WhamLine: [[spoiler: "Oleg is not here".]]
* YouCannotKillAnIdea: Zig-zagged. It's stated that the Plague Doctor [[spoiler: lost most of his followers after having his UriahGambit exposed]], but that was said on TV, so can we really believe it?
* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: The ultimate plan of the Plague Doctor is to [[spoiler: have his followers (mostly gangsters and lowlifes) dispose of the corrupted rich people of the city, which would make the army dispose of ''the followers themselves'', whom he also considers unsuitable for a perfect world.]]

* ActionHero: While Grom is an investigator, this is his primary operating procedure: chases and restraining are right up his alley, and when he needs information, he prefers to beat it out of people.

* AnimatedCreditsOpening: An ArtisticTitle chock-full of visual metaphors and set to a chillingly beautiful song.

* AwesomeMcCoolname: While ''Igor'' is a regular Russian first name, ''Grom'' means "thunder".

* ByTheBookCop: Dima Dubin, who is fresh out of the academy.
* {{Catchphrase}}: Grom's "Think, think"; see FakeActionPrologue for the explanation.

* CombatPragmatist: Grom's M.O. is "just beat people up", and he will use [[{{ImprovisedWeapon}} anything]] in a fight: bricks, broken glass, a garbage truck...

* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Three out of four victims of the Plague Doctor.
* CowboyCop: Igor Grom lives on this.
* DaChief: Grom's superior, Fedor Prokopenko.

* EnemyWithin: Despite what one might think after seeing the first stinger, [[spoiler: Razumovsky]]'s "dark side" is a case of flashy SplitPersonality and not [[{{DemonicPossession}} possession]].

* FakeActionPrologue: Oh boy, where do we even start. Not one but ''two'' scenes turn out to be this; both times they're cut short after an undesirable end by Grom's [[{{Catchphrase}} "Think, think!"]] and rewinded, as they're merely possibilities that Grom imagines. After a few times, he'll find an optimal solution, say something like "Nothing to think about" and rush into action for real.

* {{Hunk}}: Grom, in contrast with PrettyBoy Razumovsky.

* IntrepidReporter: Yulia Pchelkina will ''not'' stop filming and recording.

* LonelyBachelorPad: A run down studio, with no food in the fridge except for a rotten apple and a can of whipped cream. Pchelkina even it points out by mentioning the bathroom has no door.
* LovableRogue: Ignat "Booster", Grom's contact and PluckyComicRelief.

* MajorlyAwesome: ''Major'' Grom, who is awesome.

* MasterOfDisguise: One of Pchelkina's key skills.
* MeaningfulName:
** ''Grom'' means "thunder", referring to Igor's FightMagnet tendencies.
** ''Razumovsky'' also qualifies: "razum" means "mind" in Russian, which makes this last name fitting for a genius.
** ''Volkov'' too: "volk" means "wolf", hinting at Oleg being the fighter of the duo.

* NaiveNewcomer: Two words: Dima Dubin.

* OnlyFriend: Volkov to Razumovsky

* PrettyBoy: Razumovsky, in contrast with Grom, who is a {{Hunk}}.

** Turns out [[spoiler: Volkov]] is the Plague Doctor. Or is he?
** [[spoiler: Actually Volkov has been dead for over a year, and the Plague Doctor is a manifestation of Razumovsky's EnemyWithin, which means Razumovsky was (unknowingly) the vigilante all along.]]
** In the second [[{{TheStinger}} post-credits scene]] [[spoiler: Volkov is revealed to be alive in Syria.]]

* SplitPersonality: Of the JekyllAndHyde Variety.
* SplitPersonalityMakeover: "The Doormat" has blue eyes and "the Bird" has yellow eyes; the trope is downplayed as the difference is only seen by the character themselves.

* ThouShallNotKill: The cornerstone of Igor Grom's morals.

* TrademarkFavouriteFood: Grom and shawarma.
* UpperClassTwit: Kirill Grechkin, the Plague Doctor's first victim.
* {{Vigilante}}: The Plague Doctor, of course.

* VillainWithGoodPublicity: [[spoiler: Razumovsky isn't really worried about being revealed as the Plague Doctor: he has "money, technologies and the power" and easily frames himself as the victim and Grom as the actual Plague Doctor.]]
* WealthyPhilanthropist: Sergey Razumovsky spends huge sums of money on funding the orphanage he grew up in and many other things.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: The Plague Doctor.

* FemmeFatale: Pchelkina invokes this occasionally.

* FanNickname: [[spoiler: Razumovsky]]'s "evil" side has no name in the comic books or in the movie, so the fans ([[{{ProductionNickname}} and the creators]]) call it simply "the Bird".

* NotSoDifferent: Dubin discusses this with Grom; the latter agrees somewhat, but states a clear difference: [[{{ThouShaltNotKill}} he never kills people]].

* OnlyFriend: Volkov to Razumovsky.

* CombatPragmatist: Grom's M.O. is "just beat people up", and he will use anything is a fight: bricks, broken glass, a garbage truck...

** One of the stickers on Ignat "Booster"'s door reads "Do not enter without a mask". [[{{FunnyAneurysmMoment}} The film was shot in 2019.]]

* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: The ultimate plan of the Plague Doctor is to [[spoiler: have his followers (mostly gangsters and lowlifes) dispose of the corrupted rich people of the city, which would make the army dispose of ''his followers themselves'', whom he also considers unsuitable for a perfect world.]]

* ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney: This mentality seems to be everyone's (not only the antagonist's) main concern.

* ThouShallNotKill: A cornerstone of Igor Grom's morals.

----

* NotSoDifferent: Dubin discusses this with Grom; the latter agrees somewhat, but states a clear difference: [[{{ThouShaltNotKill}}he never kills people]].

* TalkingToThemself: Initially, [[spoiler: Razumovsky]] doesn't even realize that he's doing that.
* ThouShallNotKill: A cornerstone of Igor Grom's morals.

* TheConfidant: Naturally, as an OnlyFriend and a sort of bodyguard figure, Volkov is this to Razumovsky.

* {{NotSoDifferent}}: Dubin discusses this with Grom; the latter agrees somewhat, but states a clear difference: [[{{ThouShaltNotKill}}he never kills people]].

* KnightInSourArmor: Grom is pragmatic in his methods and disillusioned with the world around him, but at his core he's an idealist who believes wholeheartedly into people who have earned his trust.

* PlagueDoctor: The titular antagonist wears the mask, uses the concept of a plague in his [[{Motive Rants}} MotiveRant]], and bases his killing method on an actual plague doctor practice, burning the victims of disease.