Long-lost Belarusian Folk Horror gem about a remote mansion haunted by the spirit of a 15th century nobleman

'We have more ghosts than live people,' murmurs the pale, haunted mistress of the mansion of Marsh Firs (Elena Dimitrova) to a scholar of ancient folklore (Boris Plotnikov) who has arrived at her castle to research the bloody legend of King Stakh, a murdered 15th century nobleman whose spirit supposedly thunders through the local woodlands. (The Wild Hunt is a fixture of northern European folklore in which a sinister figure leads a chase followed by ghostly companions.) Part folk horror, part supernatural mystery, KING STAKH is a melancholy, chilling mixture of Terry Gilliam, Italian Gothic Horror, 1960s Hammer Films and THE WICKER MAN - and a major rediscovery for genre fans. The longer the young scholar stays in this mysterious house of 'shadow, gloom, madness and death,' the more strange and surreal the imagery becomes: a mad widow in a white wig; a man bleeding spontaneously from his skull; a dwarf hiding in a decayed doll's house; screeching ravens and maniacal puppet shows. Based on the novel by Belarusian writer Uladzimir Karatkievich, the long-unavailable KING STAKH has recently been restored from the original film elements in its extended 126 min. Director's Cut by Deaf Crocodile and Seagull Films for its first-ever U.S. release. (In Russian with English subtitles.)

Media

Bonus Materials

• Brand-new restoration of the Director’s Cut of the film by Craig Rogers for Deaf Crocodile
• Video introduction by filmmaker and author Kier-La Janisse (WOODLANDS DARK AND DAYS BEWITCHED: A HISTORY OF FOLK HORROR)
• ”The Wild, Wild Hunt of King Stakh” -- new video essay by film historian Evan Chester
• New commentary track by comics artist (Swamp Thing), film historian, and author Stephen R. Bissette
• New commentary track by Mike White of The Projection Booth
• QR code to access transcribed bonus features
• Blu-ray authoring by David Mackenzie of Fidelity In Motion
• Graphic Design by Beth Morris

 

Cast & Crew

Actors:

•       Boris Plotnikov
•       Elena Dimitrova
•       Albert Filozov
•       Roman Filippov
•       Boris Khmelnitskiy
•       Valentina Shendrikova
•       Aleksandr Kharitonov
•       Igor Klass
•       Vladimir Fyodorov
•       Mariya Kapnist
•       Viktor Ilichyov
•       Yuriy Dubrovin
•       Boris Romanov

Director: Valeri Rubinchik

Additional Details

Label: Deaf Crocodile

Genre: Horror

Language: Russian

Run Time: 126 mins

Region: 1

Release Date: 02/11/25

UPC: 860012020416