Product Description

An eerie, foreboding, rarely-seen classic horror film from Russia, "Viy" is based on 19th century writer Nikolai Gogol's original story of Thomas Brutus, a theology student who is forced to read scripture for a young woman who has died. What he doesn't know is, she is the devil's emissary on earth. Over the three nights of his mission, Thomas is tempted and tormented by all the minions of hell as the young man's faith and courage are tested in a trial by fire.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38828 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-08-21
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: Russian
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 77 minutes

Customer Reviews

Great Halloween story from a classical writer
I am not really into horror movies but I find this one different. It is based on a story by Gogol (early 19 cent. Russian writer, Pushkin thought highly of him) who was inspired by Ukranian folklore. Excellent family watching (esp. for a Halloween night). I think it might be reasonably approprate for kids (9 and up, or as soon as they are OK with witches). In fact, this movie was distributed in Moscow (in 70's) through a chain of "movie-theathers for kids".

The movie starts more like a comedy (vacation-bound semenarists mob streat vendors and grab passing girls while running from an Orthodox monastery). The movie gives excellent snap-shots of life in a Ukranian village 200 years ago. An atmosphere of that time is masterfully created. Gradually, the movie shifts towards "horror" as the story line develops around a young seminarist (Khoma). He is forced to come to a small village to pray for three nights over a body of a beautiful maiden who died under misterious circumstances. Each night Khoma is locked in an old wooden church where he gets all sorts of "visitors"... The maiden turned out to be a witch who had some old accounts with Khoma.

Nice acting and directing (Ptushko's movies got a number of awards at Cannes). Some special effects, e.g. flying coffin, are quite good (especially considering that the movie was made in the 60's)... However, true "horror" enthusiasts might be somewhat dissappointed by the very final scene where the witch summons Viy (a version of Devil) to haunt Khoma. The authors would probably come up with a more convincing Devil in the current age of computer graphics.

Special thanks to RUSCICO who produced this excellent DVD for Image Entertainment. The movie is digitally restored. Picture and colors are great. 5.1 surround sound was a surprise.

"Sacred Circle, Save Me! ~ A Cossack Doesn't Fear Anything In This World"
Note: Russian with English subtitles.

Synopsis: Brother Khoma, a young, Ukrainian Orthodox seminarian unintentionally beats an ugly, old witch to death after casting a spell on the surprised clergyman and mounting him as though he were a horse to soar in tandem through the night air in unholy flight. As she lies dying in the grass she transforms into a beautiful young girl as the confused Khoma runs from the scene.

Unfortunately the good Brother is assigned to perform a solitary three night prayer vigil over the same dead girl's body a few days later. For three successive evenings he must enter alone into an old wooden church and pray from dusk until dawn for the soul of the "dearly departed" As soon as he begins to pray the witch returns to life and attacks the frightened penitent. If not for the sacred circle he so wisely traced around him before beginning all would be lost.

The sound of the cock crowing to announce daybreak brings the demonic attacks to an end, giving Khoma a respite to eat, sleep, reflect and prepare for the next assault. As you might have guessed the attacks increase in intensity each night until the witch finally decides to call upon powerful demonic forces to assist her. In one final attempt to overcome the hated seminarian she summons forth VIY, the Spirit of Evil and the Devil's Emissary on Earth.

Critique: The '67 film of the supernatural, `VIY - Spirit of Evil' is superbly translated from Ukrainian folklore to the screen by N. Gogal. It is a surreal, macabre and mesmerizing journey into the darker corners of the spirit world done in unique and unforgettable fashion. The imagery is highly imaginative, evocative and disturbing with a noticeable Bermanesque feel. The sequence of the re-animated witch circling the sacred ring attempting to penetrate and attack the young seminarian is superbly done and absolutely unnerving.

My Rating: `VIY - The Spirit of Evil' is a classic, -5 Stars-.

The only soviet horror movie
Based on the novel of XIX sentury writer splendid story about the guy , who have too pray in the locked chirch for the soul of dead girl, one problem, she is the evil witch, and each night she rises from the coffin to hount him, at some moments it is a pretty scary. Perfect qualty & sound.