Metro 2013
Directed by
Anton Megerdichev
Made by
Profit
Metro Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Metro (2013). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
On the Metro, in the aging tunnels near Park Kultury, a section built in 1935 is already showing dangerous signs of structural strain. One tunnel night crawler, Sergeitch Sergey Sosnovsky, notices water seeping into the tunnel that runs beneath the Moscow River and informs the assistant station master, who brushes off the concern and jokes that it’s only groundwater. Meanwhile, Irina Garina Svetlana Khodchenkova is torn between her lover, businessman Vladislav Konstantinov Anatoliy Belyy, and her husband, surgeon Andrei Garin Sergey Puskepalis. Konstantinov tries to pressure Irina to divorce Andrei, setting the stage for a love triangle that will collide with catastrophe. Arriving from abroad, Irina spends the night with Konstantinov rather than going home, while Andrei must escort their daughter Ksenia Garin Anfisa Vistingauzen to school, though a misstep leads them to take the “Garden” station by coincidence.
As the day unfolds, Sergeitch shares a drink with Galina Elena Panova by the Garden, recalling that the water leaking into the tunnel carried a faint, slime-tinged scent that cannot be groundwater. The police detain them for drinking in public, but Galina slips away and escapes into the subway, leaving Sergeitch to plead for a phone to warn the dispatcher—only to be ignored. In the tunnel, water pours from the ceiling as a train bearing Garin, Konstantinov, and Galina arrives and the driver hits the emergency brake. The train derails, plowing into water and debris; several passengers lose their lives. Konstantinov crawls onto the car roof to survive, while Garin searches for Ksenia among the wreckage, and Konstantinov warns him that the conductor rail remains live. The water level climbs, a short circuit cuts power, and those who stay in the flooded zone die.
Garin, Konstantinov, Galina, courier Michael Stanislav Duzhnikov, and a pair, Denis Istomin Aleksey Bardukov and Alisa Katerina Shpitsa, scramble toward a passage leading to a maintenance shaft. Michael, terrified, hesitates at the exit and dies when the carriage rolls over. From the passage, they drop into a small, abandoned bunker built during the subway’s construction; above them, a vertical shaft ends in a sewer grate they cannot reach, and their mobile phones are useless underwater. As the water rises higher, tension grows between Garin and Konstantinov, who resents Garin’s questions about his relationship with Irina. When they finally manage to call Irina, they only manage to tell her that they are trapped in the bunker; they press against the bars of the shaft, hoping for rescue, but the flood’s pressure tears off the train head and the water level drops again, pulling the survivors back into the tunnel.
The survivors reach the ghost station Borodino near the Garden and regain their strength on the platform. Garin drops hints to Konstantinov that he suspects the two lovers’ involvement, and the two men clash, with Konstantinov nearly drowning again. In the flooded tunnel, the overhead arch collapses and water fills the space; the rescue team manages to shut off the water tap, but the group eventually returns to the bunker and makes it out onto the street through the bars. Alisa and Denis leave the hospital together, while Garin and Irina confront each other in a tense moment, with Garin implicitly shutting Irina’s appeals down. The film closes with Konstantinov driving in circles after the ambulance carrying Garin, leaving the future of the relationships unresolved and underscoring a city that keeps moving even as lives are forever altered by a sudden, catastrophic flood.
Metro Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Metro (2013) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Water leak observed in tunnel
In the tunnel under the Moscow River near Park Kultury, water begins to pour in. Sergeitch notices the leakage and warns the assistant station master, who dismisses it as groundwater. The man senses something more serious when the slime-like smell suggests the leak isn’t ordinary groundwater.
Irina spends the night with Vlad Konstantinov
Irina arrives from abroad and spends the night with her lover Vlad Konstantinov instead of returning home to her husband. The affair creates a web of loyalties that will complicate decisions under pressure. Her turmoil adds emotional weight to the looming disaster.
Andrei and Ksenya head toward Garden station
Andrei Garin takes their daughter Ksenya to school, but they end up heading toward the Garden metro station by chance. The misdirection pulls the family into the tunnel system where disaster will unfold. The moment foreshadows the incidental paths that will trap people together.
Konstantinov reaches Moscow, stalls in traffic
Vlad Konstantinov arrives to work but is slowed by city traffic and forced to park. This delay places him among the people who will soon be trapped in the escalating tunnel crisis. The slow start becomes a ticking clock in the disaster.
Sergeitch is detained, begs to warn dispatcher
Sergeitch is detained by police for drinking in public near the Garden area. He pleads to use a phone to tell the dispatcher everything, but the officers ignore him. His desperation highlights the fragility of ordinary people amid a rapidly developing calamity.
Derailment as water floods the tunnel
The train carrying Garin, Konstantinov, Galina, and others enters a tunnel filled with leaking water. The driver hits the emergency brake, but the train derails into water and rubble. Passengers are killed in the chaos as the tunnel becomes a deadly trap.
Survivors escape onto the train roof; live wire danger
Konstantinov climbs onto the roof to escape the rising water and helps Garin navigate the wreckage. They discover the conductor rail is still live, a constant hazard to anyone fleeing. Those remaining in the flooded area face fatal electrocution as the water level rises.
Michael dies during the escape
Michael the courier hesitates to join the others in the maintenance shaft and stays with his carriage. The train car rolls over and he dies in fear, illustrating how panic can seal fates in a disaster. The remainder presses on toward survival.
Group finds a bunker; phones Irina
The survivors squeeze into a small underground bunker connected to a maintenance shaft, unable to reach the surface. Their phones are useless underground while water continues to rise, heightening the tension and fear. They brace for rescue as the situation tightens.
Irina learns of survivors and attempts rescue
From the bunker, Garin and Konstantinov manage to call Irina and tell her they are trapped inside. Irina frantically tries to alert the rescue teams, but their efforts are hampered by the chaotic situation. Her desperate messages reveal the personal stakes behind the city’s emergency response.
Train head ripped off; water recedes
The pressure of water finally rips off the train head, causing the water level in the shaft to fall. Rescuers descend, incorrectly assuming those in the bunker have drowned. The sudden change rekindles hope just as fear returns.
Borodino ghost station and a confrontation
The group reaches the ghost station Borodino and rests briefly on the platform. Garin hints at Konstantinov's ties to Irina, triggering a tense confrontation. Konstantinov is nearly drowned during the exchange, heightening the emotional stakes.
Overhead arch collapses; escape to surface
An overhead arch collapses and water floods the tunnel again. Rescue leaders manage to shut off the water, enabling the group to reach the bunker and eventually escape through the bars to the street. The survivors burst into the open, gasping for fresh air and safety.
Ending: escape, hospital, and unresolved truths
The survivors emerge onto the street and are taken to safety. Alisa and Denis leave the hospital, while Garin and Irina cling to their uneasy truth in a tense meeting. Konstantinov is seen driving after the ambulance carrying Garin, leaving the final moments open to interpretation.
Metro Characters
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Irina Garina (Svetlana Khodchenkova)
Irina is torn between her lover Vladislav Konstantinov and her husband Andrei Garin, creating a personal wedge amid danger. Her loyalties are tested as relationships collide with the chaos of the flood. She oscillates between desire and duty as the city reels from the disaster.
Vladislav Konstantinov (Anatoliy Belyy)
Vladislav is a powerful businessman who tries to persuade Irina to divorce her husband. His ambition conflicts with the danger of the tunnel disaster, making him both a catalyst and a survivor. He pursues his own interests even as the crisis unfolds. His actions reveal a mix of charm, manipulation, and self-preservation.
Andrei Garin (Sergei Puskepalis)
Andrei is a surgeon and Irina's husband who must navigate betrayal while trying to protect his daughter. He shows pragmatism and care during the crisis, offering a stabilizing anchor for the group. His moral stance contrasts with Vlad's self-interest. He embodies parental devotion under extreme stress.
Sergeitch (Sergey Sosnovsky)
Sergeitch is a night crawler who warns about the water and becomes entangled with the group. He is older and cynical, yet resourceful. His fate underscores the peril of the tunnel and the human cost of the disaster.
Galina (Elena Panova)
Galina is a casual acquaintance who drinks with Sergeitch and later flees. She escapes custody and influences the group dynamics in the bunker and tunnel. Her actions add to the tension and uncertainty of survival.
Michael (Stanislav Duzhnikov)
Michael is a courier who accompanies the group into a bunker but panics and dies when the carriage overturns. His fear adds to the peril and shows the fragility of composure under extreme stress.
Denis Istomin (Aleksey Bardukov)
Denis Istomin is part of the group with Alisa; a pragmatic, sometimes conflicted participant who contributes to the tense dynamics under pressure.
Alisa (Katerina Shpitsa)
Alisa is a companion to Denis; she endures the flood and faces choices amid peril, with grit and resilience. She and Denis form part of the survival group and their decisions affect their fate.
Ksenia Garin (Anfisa Vistingauzen)
Ksenia is the daughter of Irina and Andrei; her presence in the crisis scenes underscores the stakes for the parents and influences the adults’ actions.
Metro Settings
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Location
Moscow Metro tunnels near Park Kultury and Garden stations
Set in the Moscow Metro, the action unfolds in tunnels beneath the city near Park Kultury and the Garden station. The environment is cramped and industrial, highlighting maintenance shafts, rails, and the constant threat of rising water. The station and tunnel network form a fragile lifeline for passengers and rescuers alike. The setting emphasizes the iconic Soviet-era infrastructure and the city’s dependence on the metro.
Metro Themes
Discover the main themes in Metro (2013). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Survival
Disaster and danger push the characters to improvise, cooperate, and endure under extreme pressure. The claustrophobic tunnel environment amplifies fear and heightens the stakes for every decision. The story uses the flood, blackout, and water to test loyalty, courage, and self-preservation. The theme centers on how ordinary people become heroes when time runs out.
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Love and Betrayal
Irina's conflict between her lover Vladislav Konstantinov and her husband Andrei Garin drives much of the personal tension. The threat of death magnifies the consequences of choices and reveals hidden loyalties. The disaster becomes a backdrop where fragile relationships are tested, exposing true motives. The theme explores the costs of passion and secrecy in moments of crisis.
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Duty
Rescuers and bystanders risk life and limb to save those trapped inside the tunnels. The film highlights acts of self-sacrifice and the moral weight of leadership under crisis. It shows how teamwork, quick thinking, and courage can prevail against overwhelming odds. The narrative uses the rescue attempt to critique organizational responses and human resilience.
Metro Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of Metro (2013). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In the depths of Moscow’s historic subway, a hidden fault awakens beneath the bustling stations. The aging tunnels, built in the 1930s, are suddenly threatened by a flood that seeps in from the river above, turning the familiar commuter corridors into a precarious maze of darkness and rising water. The city’s lifeblood—its metro—becomes a stage for an unexpected crisis, where the ordinary hum of daily travel is replaced by a tense, breath‑holding silence that presses against every wall.
Among those caught in the unfolding disaster are a handful of strangers whose lives intersect in the most unlikely of places. Sergeitch, a night‑shift worker who first notices the ominous seepage, carries the weight of practical experience and quiet caution. Irina Garina finds herself torn between the affection of Vladislav Konstantinov, a charismatic businessman, and the steady devotion of her husband, Andrei Garin, a dedicated surgeon. Their daughter, Ksenia, adds a fragile thread of familial concern to the mix, while Galina, a fellow commuter, brings an unspoken resilience that hints at deeper stories beneath the surface.
The film glides between the claustrophobic steel of the tunnels and the sprawling, rain‑slick streets above, blending a stark, atmospheric visual style with a pulse‑quickening sense of urgency. As water steadily rises, the strangers must confront not only the physical threat but also the personal tensions that have long simmered between them. Their differing backgrounds—discipline, ambition, love, and doubt—fuel a fragile alliance that teeters between cooperation and conflict, promising a compelling exploration of how ordinary people respond when the city’s underground world turns hostile.
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