Verlioka
Verlioka

Movie spotlight

Verlioka

1957
Movie
10 min
Russian

A one-eyed forest bully kidnaps a girl, but her friends rush to her aid. Based on Slavic fairy tales.

Insights

IMDb6.5/10
Director: Anatoly BobrovskyGenres: Horror, Fantasy, Adventure

Plot Summary

In a Ukrainian village, a young woman named Marusya is tormented by the Verlioka, a mythical demon who feeds on fear and despair. She must find a way to confront and defeat this creature before it consumes her and her loved ones. The film explores themes of courage, faith, and the battle against inner demons manifested as a terrifying folkloric entity.

Critical Reception

Verlioka is a cult classic of Soviet horror cinema, often praised for its atmospheric dread and effective creature design within the constraints of its era. While not widely released internationally, it has garnered a dedicated following for its unique take on Slavic folklore and its psychological horror elements.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its unsettling atmosphere and unique folklore-inspired horror.

  • Appreciated for its visual style and early exploration of psychological terror in Soviet cinema.

  • Considered a significant, albeit niche, example of Eastern European horror.

Google audience: Information not available.

Awards & Accolades

None notable.

Fun Fact

The Verlioka, a demon from Slavic mythology, is depicted in the film as a grotesque, earth-dwelling creature that often takes the form of a menacing old man or a devil.

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