Viy

This unique and visually stunning 1967 Russian version of Nikolai Gogol’s famous story deservedly earns its place among Eureka’s acclaimed Masters Of Cinema series and is presented as a Limited Edition 2-Disc Blu-ray.

Set in 19th century Russia the story begins with three students from the Bratsky School of Theology preparing for the summer vacation. Before they are allowed to head off to their prospective hometowns for the summerbreak, the impoverished young men are told they have to find food and shelter until they reach their individual destinations. However, to teach them a lesson for their disobedience the school rector has an unpleasant surprise in store: kleptomaniac Khalyava, rhetoric Tibery and philosophy student Khoma Brutus are ordered to embark on a detour, meaning they are forced to walk an extra long distance route. Just before nightfall they manage to reach a remote farm with the owner, an ugly old hag, granting them shelter albeit in separate corners of the building. During the night the old woman sneaks into the barn and tries to seduce the disgusted Khoma (“You”re too old… you’re too old!”) before climbing onto his shoulders – first he seems to walk in an uncanny and fast manner – almost floating above ground - before the two take flight into the air on her broomstick. All the while Khoma has strange hallucinations. When Khoma and the witch land on a meadow he brutally starts beating her in a fit of rage and disgust but to his amazement the witch turns into a beautiful young girl… could it be the same mysterious beauty he saw on the country road many hours before? This pleasant surprise doesn’t last long for the young woman appears to collapse dead shortly afterwards.

Panicstricken, Khoma runs back to the rectory. Shortly afterwards, the rector calls him to his room and lets him know that a rich tradesman has asked for him to travel to a tiny village to pray for his dying daughter. Amazed why he, of all people, has been chosen to honour the wishes of the unknown tradesman Khoma initially refuses to go but when the rector threatens him with corporal punishment he reluctantly sets off on his journey. When he arrives in the small village (which is nearby the farm) the distraught trader informs him that his daughter Pannochka (Natalya Varley) has since died. Now Khoma is supposed to spend three nights in the remote chapel with the body (kept in an open coffin) for ‘companionship’ and pray for her soul. Looking closer at the casket he then notices to his horror that the corpse is the same young girl/old witch that he beat in the field a couple of days ago. But there is no turning back and with a shudder he spends the first night in the chapel during which the dead girl awakens and tries in vain to break through his sacred protective circle. On the second night he is so frightened gets drunk but it is the third night in which the undead girl summons the demons of darkness and the Viy of the title...

The special effects are reminiscent of Ray Harryhausen’s creations and stop-motion effects but here it was artistic director Aleksandr Ptushko who was responsible. Leonid Kuravlyov is perfect casting as the unfortunate Khoma Brutus and effortlessly manages to strike the right balance between ice-cold horror, self-pity and humor while Natalya Varley makes for a suitably teasing witch.

This Limited Edition O-Card Slipcase release has a special surprise in store for Disc 2 offers the equally atmospheric 1990 TV-adaptation of Gogol’s novel, directed by Croatian Djordje Kadijevic and ‘spiced up’ with erotic digressions.
Additional bonus material on Disc 1 includes a video essay on Gogol, audio commentary, collector's booklet and fragments from three Soviet silent films with supernatural themes, including 'Satan Exultant' from 1917. In Russian language with English subtitles.