THE SAVAGE HUNT OF KING STAKH(DIKAYA OKHOTA KOROLYA STAKHA), 1980, Belarusfilm, 126 min. Dir. Valeri Rubinchik. “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.)
Bonus Features:
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.
