Review of Viy (1967) by Nikitos W — 22 Dec 2007

Marvellously, how this awful gleam could take place in such unfriendly conditions as the Soviet cinematography.

For the smuggling of horrors took 3 director - two debutants and one recognized of the Soviet fantasy master. Fact that the film has no single author's hands, felt: damp and clampy of degree work adjoin with perfected weird episode, apparently belonging Ptushko. But these missteps hardly visible, and minimalistic style of the narration doesn't allow film to collapse (Good in this regard is weighted and rigid Kuravlyov's acting - no false theatricality). But interestingly not only that. It is known that in USSR sex was not. The horrors of Viy clearly demonstrate what fears born in the Soviet citizens's mind before of this non-existe monster. Varley's Witch is sexual, even glamorous notions of the 21 st century - but, see, how this sexuality is decorated! Coffin, decomposition, vermin, etc. Finally, a church with suffocating interiors - what is, if not a symbol of vagina? Authors are not interested in church from the outside - the whole interest and horror exclusively from the inside.

And even those evil icons and locked doors - the complete set of threatening female characters.

One can only guess who is such Viy. If the 'lift me eyelids', it can be a clitoris? Anyway, the main monster from the creators do not turned out desperately and was the same sad absurdities as King Kong in the first 'King Kong'. But let's return to the sexual overtones.

Unhealthy situation to sex in the USSR is even of special transformation rituals involving sexual relationships, such as weddings. Marriage is the backbone, around which the majority classic horror untwist.

In Viy hero invited his dead bride on the real anti-wedding, which motto - 'until death do not connect us'. '. Then Viy can be and should be seen as anti-priest, who draws up the legitimacy of the ritual. And here I should mention that scene in the church with the rate at the circle, whoever does filmed is PERFECT!