There is a long history of turning old folk tales into beautiful horror films.
Everything aboutViyis tailored specifically to recreate a classic fable, focusing more on creepy weirdness than actual horror.
The young girl is, of course, the witch from Brutus dream.
Image via Mosfilm.
The rest of the film follows the terrifying nights Brutus spends locked in the crypt.
The three-night structure allowsViyto organize itself into aneasy-to-follow narrative that is evocative ofthe story’s folkloric origins.
With the passing of the nights, the peril Brutus is in only grows.
Image via Mosfilm
The suspense and pressureViygenerates through the build-up to the last night is immense.
These aren’t the fairy tale creatures you’re used to.
Such faithfulness to the source material helpsViyfeel like pure magic.
There are lots of repetitions, creating a sing-song feel to the story.
The costume the young witch wears is simple but whimsical.
A thin white nightgown that billows when she moves and a massive daisy crown.
Image via Mosfilm
She looks like a princess until one notices how gaunt her makeup is.
She looks haunting, with the sheer white cast applied to her skin and thick black eyeliner.
Brutus costume is a sharp visual contrast to the witchs.
He wears a standard monk’s haircut and cassock, communicating his faith.
This reinforces the films primary conflict of good versus evil.
Viy Uses Its Fantasy to Elevate Its Horror
Viys horror is witch-horror.
Witches mean magic, and that meansViyis full oftrippy dream sequencesand campy, circa-1960s practical effects.
It does, however, lend to the uncanny valley strangeness ofViy.
The spells the witch casts are parlor tricks and old-school editing.
For an audience today, these spells feel quaint, rather than threatening.
WhereViyhas the best chance of unnerving a modern audience is with its titular Viy.
It wont scare any adults watching today, but it will definitely make someuncanny-valley-sensitive viewerswince.
For modern audiences,Viywill not be a scary movie.
Watch Viy on The Criterion Channel!
Stream on The Criterion Channel
