Based on the classic novella by nikolai gogol – and previously adapted by mario bava as black sunday – the first horror film ever produced in the soviet union remains “genuinely frightening” 1001 films you must see before you die, “a visual grab bag of terror” filminquiry.com and “one of the best horror films of all time.” indiewire in 19th century russia, a seminary student is forced to spend three nights with the corpse of a beautiful young witch'. '.strtoupper('b')ut when she rises from the dead to seduce him, it will summon a nightmare of fear, desire and the ultimate demonic mayhem'. '.strtoupper('b')ursting with startling imagery and stunning practical effects by directors konstantin yershov and georgi kropachyov, this “overlooked classic” paste magazine has influenced generations of directors for more than half a century and is still unlike any horror movie you’ve ever seen.viy the vampire an interview with richard stanleythe woods to the cosmos john leman riley on the history of soviet fantasy and sci fi filmshort silent films – satan exultant, the queen of spades, and the portraittrailer