13 Russian horror films that are really scary

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Don't expect big-budget blockbusters. But there are enough Soviet classics and interesting works of authorship here.

Horror is not the most popular genre in our country. In Soviet times, such films were almost never released, and in recent years horror films based only on special effects have been released too often. But the films from Lifehacker's selection scare you with the very atmosphere and unusual ideas.

13. Lumi

• USSR, 1991.
• Horror, adventure.
• Duration: 100 minutes.
• IMDb: 5, 8.

A huge half-wolf-half-man, nicknamed Lumi, lives in the forest near the Latvian farm. According to legend, he goes hunting once every 100 years. Valery Gumpert, whose grandfather had already defeated such a monster, is trying to kill him. It turns out that you can only lure Lumi with the help of a girl in certain clothes.

The film by Vladimir Bragin retells the fairy tale about Little Red Riding Hood in a very unusual way. The picture has a very small budget, and therefore the video sequence looks very simple. But at the same time, "Lumi" combines black comedy and elements of a classic horror movie.

12. Day of Wrath

• USSR, 1985.
• Horror, fantasy, detective.
• Duration: 84 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 1.

Professor Fiedler conducted experiments on animals in the reserve. As a result, the area was inhabited by otarks - cruel creatures similar to bears, but with an almost human intelligence. Betly the journalist goes to the restricted area to understand the secrets of the scientist.

The picture, which combined fantasy with horror for the first time on Soviet screens, is based on the story of the same name by Sever Gansovsky. The author of the original was not too happy with the adaptation. It is easy to see, though, that the idea is very similar to Dr. Moreau's Island by HG Wells.

11. Family of ghouls

• USSR, 1990.
• Horror, drama.
• Duration: 82 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 2.

In a remote village, the old man Yakov, who dug up the grave, is attacked by a ghoul, and he dies. Soon the journalist Igor is sent to the same area. He settles with Jacob's family and discovers that the deceased returned home a few days later.

The directors Igor Shavlak and Gennady Klimov filmed an unusual adaptation of the story by A. K. Tolstoy "The Family of a Ghoul." The action was transferred to modern times and turned the Gothic grotesque into a gloomy postmodern.

The film was scolded by critics, saying that the actors were acting unconvincingly, and the plot was too sluggish. But in fact, "Family of Ghouls" is more catchy with its atmosphere: the film was shot in pale colors, and the Russian hinterland is shown as a place of desolation.

10. Dad, Santa Claus died

• USSR, 1991.
• Horror.
• Duration: 81 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 4.

Very strange grandfather and grandson set traps for a person. At the same time, the scientist goes to his relative in the village to finish the story about the shrew. Local residents behave very incomprehensibly: they are all obsessed with mysticism and subordinate the visitors to their will.

It's hard to believe, but the film "Daddy, Santa Claus is dead" is based on the same story by Tolstoy "The Family of a Ghoul" as the previous film. The author of the picture, Yevgeny Yufit, is not without reason known as the founder of the "parallel cinema" movement, that is, filmed contrary to classical laws. At the suggestion of Alexei German, he turned a story about vampires into an abstract and very eerie work.

9. Dogs

• USSR, 1989.
• Horror, thriller.
• Duration: 96 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 5.

A group of mercenaries is sent on a mission to an endangered city that once stood on the seashore. Then it became shallow and a desert was formed around. The few inhabitants are increasingly attacked by aggressive packs of dogs, which the hunters must destroy. But it turns out that things are not so simple with the dogs, and the mercenaries can hardly be called a friendly team.

The picture was shot by Dmitry Svetozarov, the future co-author of "The National Security Agent" and "Streets of Broken Lanterns". And this is a rare attempt for Soviet and Russian cinema to combine an action movie with horror.

The lack of special effects is compensated by charismatic actors, mystical music from the Time Machine group and the final plot twist that changes the whole perception of the film. By the way, the idea of a post-apocalyptic abandoned city was inspired by the real story of the shallowing of the Aral Sea.

8. Ghoul

• Russia, 1997.
• Horror, action movie.
• Duration: 72 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 6.

An experienced vampire hunter comes to a small town, which until recently was a war of criminal gangs. Now even criminals are afraid - the power is being seized by bloodsuckers. The hunter must find their leader - the ghoul. Rumor has it that he is not indifferent to the daughter of a local authority.

Sergei Vinokurov shot this picture with a minimum budget in two weeks in Kronstadt. The plot of "Ghoul" draws an interesting analogy between vampires and criminals: both of them "drink the blood of the population." So the film can be considered not only a good horror action movie, but also a statement on the theme of the dashing 90s.

The dark atmosphere of "Ghoul" is complemented by the soundtrack from the Tequilajazzz group. And the final scene allows the viewer to decide for themselves how the story ended.

7. Serpentine source

• Russia, 1997.
• Horror, thriller, detective.
• Duration: 87 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 8.

Student Dina Sergeeva comes to a small town for an internship, where she wants to meet her lover at the same time. She soon finds the dead girl and immediately becomes the prime suspect in the murder. A maniac is operating in the city, but instead of looking for a villain, residents are ready for lynching Dina.

This film is more of a thriller than a horror movie. But it still has some really scary scenes, especially in the ending, which makes it possible to add him to this list.

Director Nikolai Lebedev took a theme typical for Hollywood cinema, and the budget of his film is much more modest. But in the "Serpentine source" the plot is inscribed in the atmosphere of a typical Russian province with stagnant orders. And often the reaction of the crowd is more frightening here than the actions of the criminal.

6. Blood drinkers

• USSR, 1991.
• Horror.
• Duration: 110 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 8.

The young prince Runevsky arrives at the ball to his beloved Dasha. After the event, he decides to walk through the rooms and meets a strange pale man. He says that a lot of ghouls were present at the evening.

And one more screen adaptation of the work of A. K. Tolstoy, this time - the story "Ghoul". Yevgeny Tatarsky basically wanted to shoot part of the picture on location in Italy, for which he had to look for sponsors. But the actress Marina Vlady agreed to play for free in exchange for a role in the director's next film.

"Blood drinkers" were criticized for excessive pathos and seriousness. Still, the combination of the vampire theme and the aesthetics of the Russian nobility conveys the spirit of the original well.

5. Wild Hunt of King Stakh

• USSR, 1979.
• Horror, thriller, drama.
• Duration: 139 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 9.

In 1900, ethnographer Andrei Beloretsky came to the Belarusian Polesie. There he learns the legend of the meanly murdered King Stach, who now returns with his cavalry and takes revenge on the traitor's family. At first Beloretsky does not believe in legends, but then people around him begin to die.

"The Wild Hunt of King Stakh" was called the first Soviet mystical thriller. The film is based on the story of the same name by Vladimir Korotkevich. However, in the film adaptation, the action was postponed to a later time, many side storylines were removed, and the basis was made darker.

And in the ominous picture, you can see interesting political hints: the main character is trying to raise an uprising, for which he then receives a harsh punishment.

4. Touch

• Russia, 1992.
• Horror, thriller.
• Duration: 97 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 0.

Investigator Andrei Krutitsky understands a strange case: a young mother first strangled her own son, and then opened her veins. Moreover, after interrogation, her lover also commits suicide. Soon Krutitsky is faced with a cult glorifying death, and even ghosts.

Albert Mkrtchyan is better known as the author of the legendary "Sannikov Land". But even creating the mystical horror "Touch", he found himself in his place: non-standard solutions like the answers of the deceased, which add up from the announcements of the railway dispatcher, are terrifying to this day. Alas, this picture turned out to be the director's last work.

3. Mister decorator

• USSR, 1988.
• Horror, fantasy.
• Duration: 109 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 1.

The artist Platon Andreevich, obsessed with competing with God himself, creates his best work. Taking as a basis the image of Anna, a woman dying of consumption, he makes a perfect mannequin, indistinguishable from the original. Then the sculpture disappears, and Platon Andreevich spends his days in oblivion from morphine. Years later, he meets the wife of a wealthy businessman, Maria, and recognizes in her either dead Anna or his work.

The film, imbued with the spirit of decadence, quickly became a cult. This was influenced by many factors: the performance of Viktor Avilov, for whom this was the first film role, the music of Sergei Kuryokhin, combining symphony, opera vocals and rock, the courage of the authors who portrayed the main character as a drug addict.

"Mister Designer" does not fit into the framework of one genre: there is enough drama, and thriller, and real horror. And the ending does not give a clear explanation of what is happening.

2. Wii

• USSR, 1967.
• Horror, adventure.
• Duration: 77 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

Homa Brutus killed an ugly old witch, who immediately turned into a beautiful girl. Now he has to read the psalter near her tomb for three nights. But every time there are more and more evil spirits around.

Today, this adaptation of the work of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol may not look too scary: the makeup is too outdated, and the images of various ghouls seem rather funny. But for its time, the picture was really creepy: horror films in the USSR of the 60s were simply not filmed.

And those who saw this picture in deep childhood will remember with pleasure the first impressions from viewing. Natalya Varley's crazy eyes will certainly not leave you indifferent.

1. Letters from a dead person

• USSR, 1986.
• Science fiction, drama.
• Duration: 88 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Nobel laureate Larsen escapes the aftermath of a nuclear war in a museum dungeon. He meets various survivors and tries to understand why humanity is constantly striving for self-destruction.

Perhaps the most terrifying film of Soviet cinema can hardly be called a classic horror. But Konstantin Lopushansky created a frightening post-apocalyptic atmosphere, comparable in doom only to the tape "On the Last Shore".

Although the film has a different interpretation: perhaps there was actually no war, and people live in an isolated territory, where they are tested for the possibility of survival during a nuclear winter.

And it only remains to add that, by a fatal coincidence, "Letters from a Dead Man" appeared on screens in 1986 - almost simultaneously with the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.