Russian Roulette History in Short – Game, Danger, Victory in Russian Roulette

A lot can be said about Russian roulette history. Even more will remain hidden in the sands of time and oblivion. This game is considered by many a sign of bravery, good luck, or even a profitable trade. We will tell you not only about the past of the Russian roulette but also of its place in the pop culture in our days.

There is no doubt that you have seen at least one Russian roulette movie or heard a song on the matter. We will remind you of some of the titles at the end of this article. Don’t miss to read the FAQ section with the answers to the most asked questions on this topic.

Russian Roulette Through Time

• What is Russian Roulette?
• Russian Roulette in the Past
• Modern Russian Roulette
• Future of the Russian Roulette

What is Russian Roulette?

“Russian Roulette is not the same without a gun” – Lady Gaga

Russian roulette game requires a weapon and at least one person ready to risk it all. Traditionally, the game is played with a revolver that has a bullet in only one of the chambers. Once the cylinder is loaded, the player spins it, puts the gun against the head, and pulls the trigger. The lucky ones hear a click and the game goes on. This repeats until the scenery around one of the players’ changes with a bang.

Russian Roulette in the Past

“Some humans would do anything to see if it was possible to do it. If you put a large switch in some cave somewhere, with a sign on it saying ‘End-of-the-World Switch. PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH’, the paint wouldn’t even have time to dry. ” ― Terry Pratchett, Thief of Time

This quote by Terry Pratchett’s Thief of Time shows the human desire to break the rules and go beyond reason. That is how many deadly hobbies, scientific signs of progress, or most incredible discoveries are made. One of them is the well-known death game of Russian roulette. To play, you need at least two people and a revolver loaded with a single bullet.

It is unclear when the Russian roulette history began, but as the name states, it started in Russia. There have always been young people under influence who wish to prove their luck. Many people are trying to cover up a murder. Let’s not forget the sheer desire for money that pushes people to pull the trigger with the hope of being the last man standing and collect the prize. We must not forget all sad, lonely, or depressed people willing to commit suicide. Instead of just pulling the trigger, they spin the cylinder waiting for the last-minute salvation.

It is even possible that the most common variation of the game started way back in time before the invention of projectile weapons. Even in current days, people in India play a similar game with a King Cobra. The players surround the snake and cover it with a plate. Then they drum on it and remove it. The goal is to taunt the dizzy snake without getting bitten. This is one of the dozens of dangerous gambling games the ancient cultures used to worship ancient gods of gambling, to celebrate life, or challenge their luck.

The Russian roulette, as we know it, was mentioned for the first time during the 1840s in the “The Fatalist” Mikhail Lermontov, a Russian poet and writer. We will find the game name and description in a 1937 short story written by Georges Surdez. Ever since then, the newspapers, journalists, and writers began to use the Russian roulette term as a short description of specific circumstances that lead to death. This phrase is rarely used by the forensics teams, profilers, and people involved with the keeping of the law.

Modern Russian Roulette

No matter how the weapons change and evolve through time, there will always be at least one that can be used for Russian roulette. With the development of technology, more people share their stories and reach a greater audience. You can find news, books, and videos with life stories or police reports. There are also many books, films, and songs dedicated to this subject. Do your research but stay away from practising the game yourself.

One aspect of the Russian roulette game that is often missed are the medical damages reports. “What Does It Take to Survive a Bullet to the Brain?” is an incredible article describing a case of a man shot through the head. It is easy to get excited about the game that helps you flirt with the Grim Reaper. But how often we think about the people who must pick up the pieces after that? When the bullet brings the end, the suffering remains for the relatives and friends of the player.

Other times, the projectile creates damages without leading to death. Depending on the part of the brain that is destroyed (Cerebrum, Cerebellum, or Brain stem), there are different damages to the body. This is the moment to mention that even if the survivors leave without a scratch, there are always psychological traumas that could rarely be dealt with. No matter how appealing the mystic side of gambling with your life is, we advise you to gamble with your money and not your life.

Future of the Russian Roulette

Something that survived and evolved through the centuries and even thousands of years must have a future. There will always be hot-heads willing to prove who is the bravest or luckiest. There will also always be people putting their lives on a line for money. Society may evolve to a point where a Russian roulette song or movie will be considered a relic from the past.

We can’t help but wonder how this dangerous game will evolve. Perhaps it would be possible to play in a virtual reality world without actual danger for the players. Or maybe the revolvers of the future will keep their overall appearance and shoot laser beams instead of bullets. Either way, games like Russian roulette will always be a memorable experience.

Russian Roulette Game in Movies & Songs

“People say you’re flirting with death but really you’re flirting with life.” — Lauren Hutton

If you read enough books, you will conclude that every subject has already been written or discussed. When we speak about something like Russian roulette, you will find hundreds of stories on the matter. Russian roulette history includes variations of shooting challenges all around the world. Some of the most famous stories can be found in books, films, songs, TV series, video games, and even paintings like “Donnie playing Russian roulette Painting” by Lucian Bistreanu.

Russian Roulette Movies

Each Russian roulette movie on our list shows the dangerous game from a different perspective. The roles are given to professional actors, who can make you feel their pain and dilemma behind the simple act of pulling the trigger. We chose six of the most influential movies on the subject that leave the viewers stunned for hours after watching. You may even be able to expand your list of famous gambling quotes, and use them when the occasion calls for it.

• ABCs of Death 2 (2014) – one of the 26 short films is “R is for Roulette”. The players choose the deadly game to escape an even greater threat.
• Bad Day on the Block (1997) – in this psychological thriller, Charlie Sheen’s character forces his family to play against each other.
• The Deer Hunter (1978) – Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and John Savage are three soldiers caught by Viet Cong. They are forced to play against each other while the guards bet on the winner.
• Crawlspace (1986) – in this horror thriller, a homicidal maniac who kills women uses the Russian roulette to determine his future.
• One Eight Seven (1997) – a high school teacher (Samuel L. Jackson) is forced to play by a local gang.
• 13 Tzameti (2010) – Jason Statham is one of the main characters in this suspense thriller. He signs up his brother to a Russian roulette game, where the players point the gun at another player’s head.

Have you listened to a Russian Roulette Song?

Just like with the films, many singers, musicians, and song writers are inspired to write a Russian roulette-themed song. The dark subject is often inspired by personal experience or a title in the press. You may find a title in our list that will surprise you because even devoted fans of a musician don’t know the story behind the text. Here are some of the songs dedicated to or mentioning Russian roulette:

• Lady Gaga – Poker Face (Russian roulette reference)
• Kaizers Orchestra – Rulett, Fra sjåfør til passasjer, and Resistansen
• Rihana – Russian Roulette
• Spica – Russian Roulette
• Red Velvet – Russian Roulette
• Megadeath – My Last Words

Russian Roulette History FAQ

We will complete the article about the Russian roulette history with a few questions and answers. No, no one put a gun against us, we just love sharing information. Below you will find the most commonly asked questions about the deadly game, how to play it, and how popular it is.