3D horror-fantasy Viy dominates Russian box office

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Seeing the horror genre do well is something we always love to see around these parts, and it looks like the Russian horror flick VIY is absolutely killing it internationally. The 3D horror adaptation brought in some impressive numbers over the weekend in Russia as the Oleg Stephcehnko-directed feature grossed $17 million at the box office and is reportedly on its way to a record breaking opening for a 3D film in Russia. Very cool!

The novel was last adapted for the screen in Russia by Georgy Kropachev and Konstantin Ershov in 1967. The new film, which shot on location in the Czech Republic, reprises the classic story of an ancient evil force that is awoken deep in the bowels of a monastery after the death of a beautiful maiden.

Early 18th century. Cartographer Jonathan Green undertakes a scientific voyage from Europe to the East. Having passed through Transylvania and crossed the Carpathian Mountains, he finds himself in a small village lost in impassible woods. Nothing but chance and heavy fog could bring him to this cursed place. People who live here do not resemble any other people which the traveler saw before that. The villagers, having dug a deep moat to fend themselves from the rest of the world, share a naive belief that they could save themselves from evil, failing to understand that evil has made its nest in their souls and is waiting for an opportunity to gush out upon the world.

A faithful adaptation of Nikolay Gogol's famous novel, starring an international cast that includes Jason Flemyng and Charles Dance as well as Russia’s Alexey Chadov, the film opened to $2.5 million, before adding $3.2 million Friday and $6 million Saturday.