Savage Hunt Of King Stakh, The (BLU-RAY) Pre-Order Deadline January 7/25 Coming to Our Shelves February 11/25
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.)
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.
- Graphic Design by Beth Morris