A seminary student on monastery holiday kills an old witch in a remote village. The hag then transforms into a beautiful young woman whose dying wish is for him to watch over her wake for three nights. With terrors occurring and his faith waning, he reads prayers on the overnight watch and tries to survive the supernatural encounters.
Practical Effects
The demon reveal is pure nightmare puppet theater—jaw-droppingly weird.
Score
Haunting choral chants that'll live in your head rent-free.
Production
Ukrainian village locations so authentic you can feel the mud.
Director
Georgi Kropachyov
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on Nikolai Gogol's 1835 story, itself rooted in Ukrainian folklore—this is basically Slavic grandpa's campfire tale with state funding.
The Soviet censors nearly killed it for being too religious; the directors argued it was 'anti-religious' because the prayers fail. Sneaky legends.
SU
