Finnick (also known as Little Monsters[4]) is a 2022 Russian animated feature film produced by the Riki Group and the Petersburg Animation Studio. It was directed by Denis Chernov. The film premiered on 24 March 2022.[5][6]
Few people know that every house has its own domovoy—a small, furry household spirit who secretly lives alongside humans, caring for the home and protecting the family hearth.
In the small town of Berge lives Finnick, a kind and amusing domovoy who is also rather mischievous. He constantly plays pranks on the residents of his house, which is why no family stays there for long. Other domovoys tease Finnick about this, but he does not mind at all: “No humans—no problems!”
Everything changes when a new family moves into the house. Finnick’s tricks no longer work on them, and he unexpectedly befriends their daughter, Christine. Soon, mysterious events begin occurring throughout the town. Despite their differences, Finnick and Christine must team up to uncover the cause of the strange phenomena and save the town.[7]
“Finnick: From Film to Book” presentation at the first Moscow International Children’s Book Fair (2023). On stage: voice actor Mikhail Khrustalyov (ru) (voice of Finnick).
The film was announced in 2018 under the title My Friend Finnick, produced in collaboration with the American company 3Beep and its founder Tim Verenko, with an initial planned release in 2020.[8]
A teaser for the film was released on 2 December 2021, and the full trailer premiered on 14 March 2022.
The film premiered on 24 March 2022.[9] Initially, the distributor was set to be Sony Pictures Releasing, but the company later ceased operations in Russia. The film was eventually distributed by Central Partnership. On 28 April 2022, Finnick was released on online streaming platforms Kinopoisk, Okko, and Ivi.
On 25 March 2022, for the film’s soundtrack, former leader of the band Korol i Shut Andrey Knyazev (ru) and the lead singer of Melnitsa, Helavisa (ru), released the song “Beautiful Old House”, a reworking of the song “Cursed Old House” from Korol i Shut’s 2001 album As in an Old Tale.[10]
A continuation of the film, an animated TV series titled Detective Finnick, consisting of 26 episodes of seven minutes each, premiered on the channel STS on 25 December 2022 at 12:00.[11]
The film premiered in Moscow on 23 March 2022,[12] before releasing in cinemas across Russia the next day.[13]
Soundtrack
Finnick: Music from the Film is the soundtrack to the animated film Finnick, featuring various artists, released on 25 March 2022. Music critic Aleksey Mazhayev (ru) reviewed the soundtrack for Intermedia.ru and rated it 8 out of 10.[14]
Reception
Critical response
Intermedia, a respected Russian film portal, gave *Finnick* a score of **8 out of 10** in its review titled “Art Demands Fur.”[15] The review praises the film’s faithful take on Slavic mythology through the domovoy character, its emotional depth, and the way it thoughtfully modernizes folklore to explore themes of isolation and community.
TV Mag, in its coverage of the film’s release, described *Finnick* as a **“bright family comedy”** with a “whimsical detective adventure” setup.[16]
Audience response
On **KinoCensor**, users rate *Finnick* **7.01 / 10**.[17] This positive score reflects appreciation for the film’s balance of playful mischief and heartfelt messaging about home and care.
**Afisha.ru** user reviews lean favorably: commenters describe the film as “kind and funny,” noting that both adults and children can find enjoyment in its humor and design. Many users highlighted the warmth of the story and the charm of its furry protagonist.[18]
On the review site **Otzyv.pro**, one user remarked, *“the film is full of positivity … funny, colorful, and kind,”* recommending it as a perfect pick for quality family time.[19]
According to **IVI**, a major Russian streaming service, the film holds a rating of **8.3 / 10**. Viewers on the platform praise its “soulful adventure,” the depth of the friendship between Finnick and Kristina, and its magical detective storyline.[20]
These factors, combined with strong user ratings and a successful streaming presence, underline *Finnick*’s success as a wholesome family animation.
Interesting facts
*Finnick* is one of the first Russian animated films to prominently feature the **domovoy**, a creature from Slavic folklore, as its central character, bringing traditional mythology into a modern detective story for children.
The film was initially announced in **2018 under the title *My Friend Finnick***, in collaboration with the American animation company 3Beep, marking a rare cross-cultural co-production between Russia and the U.S.[21]
The film’s teaser was released in **December 2021**, and the full trailer came out **March 14, 2022**, almost four years after the project was first announced.
*Finnick*’s soundtrack features a collaboration between **Andrey Knyazev**, former frontman of the band *Korol i Shut*, and **Helavisa**, the lead singer of the folk-rock band *Melnitsa*, reimagining the iconic song *“Cursed Old House”* for the film.[22]
After Sony Pictures initially planned to distribute the film in Russia, the company **ceased operations in Russia**, and the distribution rights were later taken over by **Central Partnership**, showing the film’s resilience amid geopolitical challenges.
The animated series **Detective Finnick**, a continuation of the film consisting of **26 seven-minute episodes**, premiered on **STS** on **December 25, 2022**, extending the universe of the original movie into television.
Sequel
A sequel to the film, titled Finnick 2, was released nationwide in cinemas on 23 October 2025, three years after the first installment.
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