Viy - Вий (1967)

[derek_1999]

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Limited Edition Exclusive O-Card slipcase
• LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE BONUS DISC: A HOLY PLACE [Sveto mesto] (1990, dir. Djordje Kadijevic) A adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s short story and a stunning example of Serbian Gothic cinema from director Djordje Kadijevic. Described by critic Dejan Ognjanovic as “an unparalleled excess of perversity and terror”
• New Interview with A HOLY PLACE director Djordje Kadijevic (Limited Edition Exclusive Only)
• 1080p presentation on Blu-ray
• Original Russian mono audio
• Optional English mono audio
• Optional English subtitles and English SDH
• Brand new audio commentary with film historian and eastern European cinema expert Michael Brooke
• Brand new video essay on Russian novelist and VIY author Nikolai Gogol
• Archival documentary on VIY
• Three Russian silent film fragments, The Portrait [1915, 8 mins], The Queen of Spades [1916, 16 mins], and Satan Exultant [1917, 20 mins]
• Newly commissioned sleeve artwork by Peter Savieri [TO BE REVEALED AT A LATER DATE]
• A collector’s booklet featuring a new essay on Aleksandr Ptushko by Tim Lucas, and a new essay by Serbian writer and film critic Dejan Ognjanovic

Viy gets a UK release (Collector's Edition) from Eureka/Masters of Cinema on 15th March 2021.

[derek_1999]

Movie wise, this is a favorite of mine, I love the atmosphere and the overall mood. Very 'Russian' (although I do like a lot of Soviet era movies anyway). Viy is often referred to as the first 'horror' film produced in the USSR era... personally, I find it more of an offbeat fairy tale

I'm sure MoC's release will be a worthy set - the Ltd Edition bonus disc of A Holy Place is a great addition.

Only thing I really hope is the artwork (black cover) is a temp version - I much prefer the look of the recent Artus Films French release.



But they seem to have gone the way of the hideous Severin disc artwork



Both the the current MoC black cover and terrible looking Severin really don't do anything to 'sell' the mood/vibe of the movie, but the Artus has a better style (and is similar to the more photo based stuff MoC have used on releases before).

[oddbox83]

I'm interested, but...

Are there any comparisons to other films to help me out? Worth a blind buy?

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

I'm interested, but...

Are there any comparisons to other films to help me out? Worth a blind buy?

A little like Black Sabbath - the Boris Karloff segment.
A little like Valerie and her Week of Wonders in external look and the Euro fantasy feel (but far less ambitious in screenplay)

To be frank I felt the film felt padded out even in its not-lengthy running time because the actual story is quite brief. It would have worked better as part of a fantasy anthology IMO. There's no denying the beautiful visuals though.

[derek_1999]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

I'm interested, but...

Are there any comparisons to other films to help me out? Worth a blind buy?

Mmm - difficult to say on the blind buy. It depends a lot on your taste, I think

It's slow (but has some great sections) and has a great last act... but, as I mentioned earlier, it does feel very 'Russian', so it depends how you feel about Soviet cinema (of the fairyvtale style variety)?

(So, stuff like Ilya Muromets - 1956) - this is far more action based and 'fairy tale' - but comes from a similar place, IMHO

Last time I looked there was stuff on YouTube, so maybe flick through that & see how you feel about it?

[IVI13]

Originally Posted by derek_1999

Last time I looked there was stuff on YouTube, so maybe flick through that & see how you feel about it?

The whole film is on the Mosfilm Youtube channel, no English subtitles though.

[Surge92]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

I'm interested, but...

Are there any comparisons to other films to help me out? Worth a blind buy?

If you're a fan of Kwaidan or period-setting HK fantasy films of the '80s/early '90s, you'll probably like Viy. It's got that similar vibe and style, but with a Russian sensibility. It's also a tour de force of old-school Soviet special effects wizardry.

[Surge92]

Originally Posted by derek_1999

Only thing I really hope is the artwork (black cover) is a temp version - I much prefer the look of the recent Artus Films French release.



But they seem to have gone the way of the hideous Severin disc artwork



Both the the current MoC black cover and terrible looking Severin really don't do anything to 'sell' the mood/vibe of the movie, but the Artus has a better style (and is similar to the more photo based stuff MoC have used on releases before).

For me it's the opposite. I actually like MoC's more subtle, stylish cover art choice. The French cover looks more like a typical horror movie cover. I have the Severin disc, but I'm sure Eureka's will have better encoding and be the worthier release.

[thuata]

Originally Posted by Surge92

For me it's the opposite. I actually like MoC's more subtle, stylish cover art choice. The French cover looks more like a typical horror movie cover

I like all three but Eureka's is by far my favourite, I personally hope the regular cover stays with this design

[derek_1999]

Originally Posted by IVI13

The whole film is on the , no English subtitles though.

Yup - I just didn't know if linking was a good idea here- as we want people to buy MoC's version

Originally Posted by thuata

I like all three but Eureka's is by far my favourite, I personally hope the regular cover stays with this design

Guess It's just me then!

Originally Posted by Surge92

For me it's the opposite. I actually like MoC's more subtle, stylish cover art choice. The French cover looks more like a typical horror movie cover. I have the Severin disc, but I'm sure Eureka's will have better encoding and be the worthier release.

I just hate the Severin - (IMHO) the artwork is bad... on the MoC I can see they're going for a cut out/abstract Russian poster/modernist styling... but it doesn't work for me.

Guess, as this thread proves, we all do have different tastes!

[shireguy]

Originally Posted by IVI13

The whole film is on the Mosfilm Youtube channel, no English subtitles though.

thanks for the link - and there are some subtitle srts around - just d/l as a MP4 and add subtitle - it might be a little out of sync

In any case - never seen, and the Severin edition was an 'interest', however after seeing the Youtube copy, this is not on my cup of tea (a blind buy not) As for horror, it's not that.

[Surge92]

Originally Posted by shireguy

In any case - never seen, and the Severin edition was an 'interest', however after seeing the Youtube copy, this is not on my cup of tea (a blind buy not) As for horror, it's not that.

It's a fantasy film more than anything else. I personally loved it, but I know it won't be everyone's cup of tea.

[bigshot]

It's like a Bosch painting in parts of it. I think it's a brilliant one of a kind type of film.

[Kakihara]

Severin's slipcover artwork of this film is the best by far of Viy, IMO.

[Baron Blood]

If this isn't tinted blue like the Severin release, I want it badly.

[Eidolon]

Originally Posted by Baron Blood

If this isn't tinted blue like the Severin release, I want it badly.

As far as I recall, the old Ruscico BD was blue looking. I always assumed it's supposed to look that way.

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by Baron Blood

If this isn't tinted blue like the Severin release, I want it badly.

Even if it is you'll still want this for the bonus film.

[Baron Blood]

Originally Posted by Eidolon

As far as I recall, the old Ruscico BD was blue looking. I always assumed it's supposed to look that way.

Severin BD (doesn't represent the sharpness)





Ruscico DVD

[derek_1999]

Originally Posted by Baron Blood

Severin BD (doesn't represent the sharpness)



Ruscico DVD

It's the typical issue - seen on so many newly 'restored' movies (from art house to blockbuster), of applying modern grading (either the orange/teal look or a cyan addition to black/contrast levels that ends up giving a blue wash to everything).

Always a giveaway is the fact that eyeballs look blue, in pre-digitally graded movies (ie before-2000),you'd always see white eyeballs and warm colours (in general). Film stock and lighting was used to get a look/grade (in camera) whereas as modem footage shoots 'raw' and is then pushed around in the grade (final look comes from the grade - not the camera rushes).

So digital grading is a typical second pass nowadays and this is often (incorrectly, IMHO) applied on older material that just wasn't shot*with the notion of it being 're-graded' as* is the vogue of modern cinema.

The results of this is, when restorations are done now, it seems the assumption is that the colours/image can be pushed around digitally - and this cyan push is often added.

Many movies are having their looks changed (some in subtle ways - others fairly radical).

I suppose this is likely to be the same as the Severin - did anyone get a copy of the Artus FIlms release to see how that looked?

Maybe someone from MoC we'll get a definitive version

[Baron Blood]

It's really sad when they do this for movies that are known for their glorious colors.
Films like this, The Horror of Dracula and The Whip and The Body.
Whip being the biggest abomination.