Kazakh Director Discusses Gory Debut Film 'Sicko'
Originally published Jun 16, 2026
By Postcardjunky · Variety
AI-generated summary based on Variety · Aggregated by Filmarian · Human-reviewed and approved on Jun 16, 2026
Key points
- Aitore Zholdaskali's 'Sicko' is a Kazakh crime thriller with graphic violence.
- The film follows a couple's failed internet scam and its dire consequences.
- 'Sicko' premiered at the Transilvania Intl. Film Festival.
- Zholdaskali co-wrote the film with Kazybek Orazbek and Aldiyar Zhaparkhanov.
- The director argues that the film's violence is less intense than real-life horrors.
Aitore Zholdaskali's debut film, 'Sicko,' is a Kazakh crime thriller that showcases graphic violence and explores the consequences of a failed internet scam. The film, which premiered at the Transilvania Intl. Film Festival, was co-written by Zholdaskali, Kazybek Orazbek, and Aldiyar Zhaparkhanov. The story centers on a financially struggling couple who attempt a get-rich-quick scheme that spirals out of control. Zholdaskali, in an interview, defended the film's violent content, stating that it pales in comparison to the horrors of real life.
Read the original story: Variety — by Postcardjunky