Dark Planet (original Russian title: Обитаемый остров, romanized: Obitaemyy ostrov, lit.

The film was adapted by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko from the 1969 novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky of the same Russian name, published in English as Prisoners of Power; a part of the Noon Universe series.

It is a dystopian story set on post-apocalyptic planet Saraksh, ruled by a totalitarian regime that brainwashes its citizens.

It was praised for its visual style, social commentary and being faithful to the original novel, but also criticized for its direction, editing, and casting.

Maxim learns that the name of the planet is Saraksh, and the country where he landed is called Fatherland, because it is ruled by a militaristic dictatorship of the Unknown Fathers.

After Maxim refuses to execute a group of captured "degenerates", Guards commander Rittmeister Chachu shoots him and leaves him to his apparent death.

During his time with the rebels, Maxim learns the true nature of the regime and the purpose of towers erected across the country.

Contrary to state propaganda, the towers function as mind control devices, sending a special kind of radiation that ensures the citizens' loyalty to the regime.

Twice in a day, the majority of people experience a patriotic frenzy, while minority, the "degenerates", are able to resist brainwashing, but they suffer from intense pain and convulsions.

After fighting alongside the "degenerates" in the attack on a tower, Maxim is again captured by the military and sentenced to a prison labor camp.

He drives the tank away from detention zone across the minefield, picks up Guy, and heads south to the neighbouring nations.

Fatherland is defeated, and the State prosecutor, who was an active supporter of the war, realizes that the Unknown Fathers will execute him for failure.

Maxim, a well-intentioned amateur, ruined the plan to save Fatherland and the rest of the planet that Strider has been preparing for decades.

A Mir Fantastiki review called the film a "chaotic mash of visual, dramatical and musical components, each of which separately has quite high quality".

[4] "As a result, the film is scattered throughout a sequence of "beautiful pictures" that do not shape an integrated view of the world", agrees Total DVD.