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This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

This strange, folk fairy-tale technicolour nightmare begins with a band of young novice monks eagerly waiting to begin their vacations. Mischievous and cheeky, they waste no time in time in scouring the countryside in search of food and girls. Before long, three of their number are lost and, rather than sleep under the stars, call upon an abandoned farmhouse where they are reservedly welcomed by an old crone. She takes a seeming fancy to Khoma (Leonid Kuravlyov) and he finds himself apparently being seduced by her late at night. Within moments, they are flying through the darkened skies, and a panicking Khoma realises she is a witch. Somewhat ungratefully, he beats her to near death and, shortly before she expires, she becomes an attractive young woman.Beyond this, events become darkly farcical. Based on a story by Russian surrealist writer Nicholai Gogol, this adaption is resplendent in a stagey atmosphere that renders everything slightly unreal, and terrific direction by Georgi Kropachyov and Konstantin Yershov. The result is a genuinely unnerving, deliberately child-like gothic extravaganza, with humour and illusion, all liberally laced with superb horror trappings. Kuravlyov is excellent throughout, never adjusting his performance amidst the constant shifts in tone around him. For a hypocrite and a murderer, Khoma is extremely likeable. It is he who has to remain in the chapel with the corpse for three nights in prayer, and inevitably, she rises from the dead on more than one occasion to try and kill him. Natalya Varley stars as the wraith-like Pannochka, adorned very much in the style of horror maidens and goth girls, and is very unsettling with her skittering movements and blind, wild-eyed flickerings.This is a mad, whirling experience, resplendent in its nightmare imagery and awash with special effects. Despite the deliberate staginess, it hasn't really dated - especially due to Kuravlov's naturalistic acting - and yet its style harkens back to the theatrical tone of the silent films. Above all, it is something *different*, and that is nearly always a good thing.

I really enjoyed watching this film. The humour was subtle, the photography beautiful and the effects were far better than I would have expected from a 1967 Russian movie. The comical antics of the antihero and the filming techniques reminded me much of Sam Raimi's Army of Darkness. The stop motion photography at the end of the movie showing double-jointed freakish vampires crawling along the walls, reminded me of the 1992 version of "Dracula" or Samara's movements in "The Ring". It wouldn't surprise me to hear that this film inspired future horror film directors. The camera techniques are ahead of their time. I highly recommend this movie.

I went into this film expecting a tedious foreign film from the late sixties but the film far exceeded my expectations. For a start, it's in quite vibrant colour, and has a rich cultural background. The story is (fairly) unique in cinema in that it contains a witch who acts like a proper fairy tale witch rather than a reject from the wizard of Oz. It's more like a dark fairytale than a horror film.The special effects are quite good for their day and location and although there is a comedic element to the film (I'm hoping it's deliberate), it never overtakes the film entirely.

Three drunken Russian seminarians are going home and ask for lodge to an old woman. Actually, she is a witch, who captures one of them and uses him like a flying broom. The young priest fights with her and kills her. After her death, she becomes a young and beautiful woman. Her rich father calls the young priest and orders him to stay with her body in an wooden church, praying for three nights, as per her daughter's wish before die. The witch summons many creatures from hell to fight against the priest. This tale is very interesting, weird and non-sense, having a wonderful photography and excellent special effects for a 1967 film. I dare to say that the story is a little crazy, maybe better understood by Russians, since it is based on their folklore. Anyway, I believe that fans of horror movies will like it. The atmosphere in the church is very dark. My vote is eight. Title (Brazil): `Viy – O Espírito do Mal' (`Viy – The Evil Spirit')