Savage Hunt of King Stakh (1980) User Reviews

Russian Gothic is a mini masterpiece

[Leofwine_draca · 7/10 · 18 February 2017]

THE WILD HUNT OF KING STAKH is a film that I've never heard of before watching, but I was in for a treat with this one. It's a Russian film made in 1980 and tinged with the usual surreal fairy tale elements, but this isn't a fantasy film at all; rather, it's a full-blooded Gothic horror with much in common with the Italian Gothic cycle of the 1960s and beyond. Antonio Margheriti's WEB OF THE SPIDER would be a good reference point for this movie.

The story is simplistic and acts as a rail on which to hang a series of surrealistic set-pieces, all of them dripping with Gothic atmosphere. A couple move into a remote house in the fog-enshrouded countryside and the wife becomes obsessed with the titular legend. When they start hearing phantom horses outside the house, things become really eerie. THE WILD HUNT OF KING STAKH is a visual masterpiece, with excellent sets and scenery and solid performances from the put-upon leads. The whole thing is infused with foreboding and builds to a suitably horrific and ghostly climax. It's a very rewarding viewing experience.

Consummately Gothic

[Gooper · 9/10 · 16 November 2004]

I saw this picture in, of all places, New Delhi. So, viewing a dark Russian tale in such a colourful, lively environment added to the already heightened feeling of high quality weirdness that 'Stakha' (English title: 'The Savage Hunt of King Stakh') conveys. The wonderful and adventurous strangeness of later Soviet era films, so little seen in the West, is here evident, but with an added ingredient of genuine gothicness, somewhat akin to Herzog's 'Nosferatu', but with a thrust further into undiscovered corners and shadows. Rather than discomfort though, this film brings with it a certain coziness, more Poe-like than horrific, much more Byronic than Stephen King-ish. There is a sort of perversity in the art direction, which perfectly accompanies the singular mood of this obscure picture. It was 20 years ago that I saw it, and it is the mood of the piece, not so much the imagery or the soundtrack, which remains in the memory. Naturally, I wish it were accessible. At least one sale of a DVD version would be assured.

A real gem

[gergelyh-15596 · 10/10 · 5 January 2016]

I really wonder why this great example of noble past-century Gothic is not more widely known and appreciated! This was a sort of shock when I saw it first as a teenager, freshly after its release, in Hungarian TV -- you did not expect a horror that was actually scary from the Soviets (nor any amount of full-frontal female nudity). Well, such thrills usually don't stand the test of re-watching, but after all the decades, this film remained as gripping and enchanting as ever.

The movie is very atmospheric from the beginning and the kind of story that logically proves you there is no supernatural evil (just some greedy bad guys), but somehow makes you believe just the opposite in the end! The cinematography of the bleak foggy landscapes and the decaying dark castle, both silent but really menacing, is just unforgettable. There is some very decent acting -- sadly not from the part of Elena Dimitrova who overacts sometimes (and looks a bit old for the role) but all the other actors are good, especially those in the important role of Lord Dubotowk and the minor one of the police chief.

All the costumes and paraphernalia are chosen with great care: the woodcut illustrations of the old book, the family portrait paintings and the puppet theater are particularly beautiful. And the music is remarkable, too -- they could not use it very professionally throughout the movie, but in the final minutes it's so good, even Morricone could not have made it better.