Elsewhere in a review on IMDb I read that this film was based on a play - not at all to my surprise. There are loads of dialogues which make it hard to follow at times, because I don't speak Finnish and there was a lot of (subtitle) reading to do. But the dialogues aren't the most important thing here; they become chaotic at times, as much as the characters seem to be talking in circles (mostly horny talk plus arguments for and against science and old wives' tales). Then there's the use of the old 'it was all a dream'-trick in the last part, which only really works because the magical horror part can (finally) get going from there.
But what's most attractive about this oldie horror, is of course 'Finnish Bööberellå': Mirja Mane, who plays the 'witch'. The full frontal nudity (well, no groin area up close) is refreshing to see in such an old horror; it is appropriate and quite tasteful. I'd never heard of her before, but she may well have become a horror icon in Finland, and with more luck, in the world, but according to IMDb she only did five films, and she died at the tragic age of forty-four after a short period of (unknown) illness.
So all in all, 'Noita palaa elämään' is mostly a more than decent Finnish answer to many of the usual American and English old horror movies, but with Mirja Mane as a considerable extra.
A small 8 out of 10.
But what's most attractive about this oldie horror, is of course 'Finnish Bööberellå': Mirja Mane, who plays the 'witch'. The full frontal nudity (well, no groin area up close) is refreshing to see in such an old horror; it is appropriate and quite tasteful. I'd never heard of her before, but she may well have become a horror icon in Finland, and with more luck, in the world, but according to IMDb she only did five films, and she died at the tragic age of forty-four after a short period of (unknown) illness.
So all in all, 'Noita palaa elämään' is mostly a more than decent Finnish answer to many of the usual American and English old horror movies, but with Mirja Mane as a considerable extra.
A small 8 out of 10.