Kazakh Scary Tales: Yerzhanov’s Dark Spin on Folklore

Adilkhan Yerzhanov, Kazakhstan’s most award-winning film director, has created a series where national folklore finally finds its cinematic voice. Kazakh Scary Tales has already been screened at several international festivals, and the first three episodes premiered in Kazakhstani cinemas. I managed to watch all ten episodes—though it remains unclear when the series will reach a wider audience.

What is the series?

A mystical detective story about an investigator forced not only to confront evil spirits but also to wage an uneven battle with his own inner demon.

The cast

Kuantay Abdimadi, Anna Starchenko, Aziz Beishenaliyev, Sanzhar Madi, Dinara Baktybayeva, Aibar Saly, Yerken Gubashev, Assel Kaliyeva, Daniyar Alshinov, Shah-Murat Ordabayev.

What’s it about?

Birzhan Rymzhanov and his family return to his native village of Karatas, where he’s been assigned to investigate a series of strange crimes. These events awaken an insatiable thirst for darkness in the otherwise “good cop.”

Helping Birzhan balance his dual nature are Sara, a local outcast fortune teller, and Ulmes, a charismatic pathologist.

Some may recall that about ten years ago Showtime aired Penny Dreadful, localized in Russian as Strashnye Skazki (Scary Tales). There, Josh Hartnett’s character wanders through Victorian London alongside a psychic, encountering Dorian Gray, Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, and other Gothic icons.

Even if Yerzhanov drew inspiration from that premise, it exists only at the level of a synopsis.

Performances

The series immediately captivates with the stunning performance of Kuantay Abdimadi as the unsure investigator who slowly transforms into an infernal beast. His metamorphosis — both physical and psychological— is revealed with striking nuance.

Each episode also introduces new characters who receive their 15 minutes (or more) of screen time. One notable absence is Sharip Serik, who was cut from the final version after being canceled. His portrayal of a corrupt police officer in a ram-skin vest over his uniform was simultaneously repulsive and hilarious.

The rest of the cast shines as well. Sanzhar Madi, as Zulfikar Putyashev, brings depth to a character that could never be minor with such a name. Shah-Murat Ordabayev provides comic relief at just the right moments.

Ulmes, the pathologist, could easily have become a stock character from a show like Dexter. Instead, Yerzhanov writes him into a peculiar bromance with Birzhan, filled with sharp banter that veers unpredictably between serious conversation and playful flirting — always unexpectedly, yet convincingly.

Structure and Style

Some promotional materials mistakenly call Kazakh Scary Tales an anthology, like Black Mirror or American Horror Story. In fact, its structure is closer to a procedural drama: each episode tells a self-contained story, while the main characters remain throughout, much like Sherlock or House M.D.

Though mystical in form, Yerzhanov stays true to the old adage: “Every myth has a kernel of truth.”

His series hints at the grim realities of the world we live in—violence, fear, prejudice, and indifference. The result is a fairy tale, yes — but with no happy ending.

Original Author: Karim Kadyrbayev