I saw this movie before reading any reviews, and I thought it was very funny. I was very surprised to see the overwhelmingly negative reviews this film received from critics.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

This is ultimately a movie about the very bad things that can happen when we don't address our unease, when we just try to brush it off, whether that's to fit in or to preserve our self-image.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

I do like this movie.It's mad and cranky; style of humor is a bit English. Main line and idea was taken from novel by Dostoevsky but this is mostly improvisation not just a movie shot after the book. It's deep philosophical and groovy at the time; you may see this movie like something easy-watching or like a movie that you will think about.I can also said that this is quite black movie, sometimes it is too spiteful (at least for me). But at the same time this movie is about love.So I think that this is highly recommended movie for every philosophical person in the world.And I am giving it clear 10 of 10.

Being a big fan of Dostoyevsky, I'm very picky on any attempts to represent any of his writings, whether on stage or screen. Anyway, I've seen four movies based on 'Idiot'. First one is classical Soviet with Yakovlev as Count Myshkin, second - Russian TV series of early 2000s, starring E. Mironov, third - Akira Kurosawa's view. Last, but not the least - 'Down House'.Funny thing is, this movie contains more of Dostoyevsky' spirit than any other. It's fun, it's more like 'Fear and Loathing' or 'Acid House', - but still it has an 'Idiot' inside. Great acting (don't expect any Hollywood style), hilarious plot twists and the very feeling of success transferring XIX century book to XXI century reality...

The only reason I watched this movie was "Idiot" by Dostoyevsky. All the character as well as most of the plot were taken from the great novel. I've got some controversial feeling for this movie. Overall, I like it a lot. I have respect for the film-makers trying to produce something extra-ordinary. However, 'Down house' started intensively and promising it turn out to be little wasted by the end.The visuals and photography are bright and meaningful with some unusual, unexpected computer graphics and thus creative and exciting.DJ Groove (young almost a cult DJ in Russia) does the soundtrack the way it should be done (sort of a Dust brothers in "Fight club"). It's pulsing, beating and goes in harmony with the picture.Casting and acting as a result is indeed superb (esp. Bodarchuk, Ivan Okhlobystin, Anna Buklovskaya). There are some cameo appearances like above mentioned DJ Groove, Artemi Troitsky (Russian critic of all time and nations), polish actor Jerzy Stuhr.Script isn't on the same level through the movie. Well developed and positioned in the beginning it jumps, wags and fades by the end. A solid portion of a noire brakes the complexity of the story and turns modern-fashioned make-up into extreme farce and post soviet bleached anecdotic simplicity."Down house" is very similar to Irvin Welsh's screening (Trainspotting, Acid house). Just add some chaos, punk, vulgarity and Dostoevsky.6/10