Viy

During a break from seminary life, Khoma Brut travels to a remote village and ends up killing an ancient witch. The hag's body then shifts to a stunning young woman who pleads that he keep watch over her wake for three nights. He agrees, feeling the weight of a grave vow as prayers are whispered and fear latches onto every shadow. Night after night, uncanny torments and visions erupt, gnawing at his faith and forcing him to question what is real. Khoma clings to holy verses, crosses, and protective talismans as the house and surrounding woods become a labyrinth of dread. The border between the sacred and the sinister grows dangerously thin.

Released in 1967 in the Soviet Union, Viy was directed by Konstantin Ershov and Georgy Kropachyov with special effects by Aleksandr Ptushko. The film adapts Nikolai Gogol's tale, and its blend of folklore, fantasy and horror helped cement Ptushko's reputation.

Viy has endured as a touchstone of Soviet fantasy cinema and a cult favorite for fans of horror folklore. Its striking visuals, eerie atmosphere, and the Witch sequence are frequently cited in discussions of traditional cinema craft and influence within later genre work. Scholars note the witch's ritual as a standout in suspense and visual atmosphere, and the film's imagery has echoed in later Eastern European fantasy cinema.

Critics at the time praised the film for its bold visuals and atmospheric tension, while some found the pacing heavy by Western standards. Audiences later embraced its dreamlike quality and its mix of folklore and horror, and the movie has a lasting presence in fan art, retrospectives, and discussions of fantasy cinema. That legacy continues today in festivals and streaming.