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Viy, 1967
A young seminary student named Khoma (Leonid Kuravlyov) has a strange encounter with a witch--an old woman who enchants him and drags him across the countryside before he is able to get the upper hand. But when he beats her, she transforms into a young woman. Khoma is soon told that a dying woman has requested that he pray for her soul. The dying woman--the daughter of a wealthy man--turns out to be the witch, and Khoma is in for some rough nights as he alone stays in the chapel with her (supposedly dead) body.
This is one of those horror titles that is infamous for its imagery, and I bet most horror fans know the image of the woman in the white dress with the floral headdress.
The film itself very much follows the pace and plot of a folk tale. There might not be a ton of character development, but at its core the film is following Khoma's trials over the three nights. The suspense derives from what each night will hold.
I felt that the imagery really lived up to the hype. The whole film is wonderfully colorful and kinetic. As each night goes by, the images/visuals become more complex. The final night in particular has some really excellent creature design.
I can see how someone might be a little underwhelmed by this one, especially if they were expecting more of a story and especially if they had different expectations for the visuals/effects, but I was pretty charmed by it. It is also only like 75 minutes long, so it doesn't overstay its welcome.
I really enjoyed Viy and I'm glad I finally checked it out.
Viy, 1967
A young seminary student named Khoma (Leonid Kuravlyov) has a strange encounter with a witch--an old woman who enchants him and drags him across the countryside before he is able to get the upper hand. But when he beats her, she transforms into a young woman. Khoma is soon told that a dying woman has requested that he pray for her soul. The dying woman--the daughter of a wealthy man--turns out to be the witch, and Khoma is in for some rough nights as he alone stays in the chapel with her (supposedly dead) body.
This is one of those horror titles that is infamous for its imagery, and I bet most horror fans know the image of the woman in the white dress with the floral headdress.
The film itself very much follows the pace and plot of a folk tale. There might not be a ton of character development, but at its core the film is following Khoma's trials over the three nights. The suspense derives from what each night will hold.
I felt that the imagery really lived up to the hype. The whole film is wonderfully colorful and kinetic. As each night goes by, the images/visuals become more complex. The final night in particular has some really excellent creature design.
I can see how someone might be a little underwhelmed by this one, especially if they were expecting more of a story and especially if they had different expectations for the visuals/effects, but I was pretty charmed by it. It is also only like 75 minutes long, so it doesn't overstay its welcome.
I really enjoyed Viy and I'm glad I finally checked it out.