Trailers
Description
Early 18th century. Cartographer Jonathan Green undertakes a scientific voyage from Europe to the East. Having passed through Transylvania and crossed the Carpathian Mountains, he finds himself in a small village lost in impassible woods. Nothing but chance and heavy fog could bring him to this cursed place. People who live here do not resemble any other people which the traveler saw before that. The villagers, having dug a deep moat to fend themselves from the rest of the world, share a naive belief that they could save themselves from evil, failing to understand that evil has made its nest in their souls and is waiting for an opportunity to gush out upon the world.
Starring
Awards
Key opinion
This 2014 adaptation of Viy is a polarizing, visually ambitious spectacle that reimagines Gogol’s classic as a gothic adventure rather than a faithful period piece. While many viewers praise its impressive world-building and technical production, others feel the disjointed narrative and heavy reliance on CGI undermine the soul of the original source material.
| Production | The film excels in creating a distinct visual identity, with the gothic village setting and production design offering a rich, immersive atmosphere. | |
| Acting | Jason Flemyng and the supporting cast provide solid, credible performances that anchor the film despite the eccentric nature of the premise. | |
| Cinematography | The 3D implementation and visual effects provide a high-end, blockbuster-style experience, though the quality of specific creature animations is inconsistent. | |
| Adaptation | The narrative takes significant liberties with the original story, leading to a divide between those who enjoy the inventive, genre-blending expansion and those who view it as an unfaithful, cluttered misuse of Gogol’s work. | |
| Pacing | The film's length and erratic narrative structure leave audiences split, with some finding the scope rewarding and others feeling the story is disjointed and overlong. |