Good day, my dear students!

 The topic of this week's column - the scariest horror movie scared me a little. I don't like or watch horror movies. I'm afraid to sleep at night.

 But still - I want to recommend you to watch the Ukrainian writer M. Gogol's film "Viy".

The film was shot back in 1967. I tried to find this film with English or Russian subtitles for you, but I couldn't find it.

But it is worth watching, even if you do not understand the language, then you will be in the past of Ukraine, the life of the people of the 19th century.

In 1835, Mykola Gogol published the collection "Myrhorod", consisting of four works, one of which was the story "Viy". She is named after a creepy creature that can kill with a look. According to the author's words and notes, the image of this monster was based on folk tales and mythology.

 

It is worth noting that the word "Viy" itself is ambiguous. Many associates it with consonant Ukrainian words that refer to eyelids as eyelashes. This version is most likely because it was the character's eyes that possessed the described magical influence.

The plot of the story is thought out to the smallest detail, this fact adds to the persuasiveness of the entire story. It all begins with the reader's acquaintance with three students of the Kyiv Stock Exchange. By chance, they got lost and had to look for a place to stay. An opportunity arose for them to find shelter on a remote farm. The old hostess did not refuse the tortured travelers. By the way, she was more interested in one of them - Khoma. A separate overnight stay in the barn was prepared for him. But he was not destined to see dreams in him. With the onset of night, he had to face the actions of the hostess, or rather the witch. Clinging to him, she galloped across the fields with him. Being confused, Homa began to recite prayers in a panic, which at that moment saved his life. Having weakened the spell of the witch, he finished her with bundles, and then the unexpected happened - the old woman turned into a young girl.

 

After such adventures, Khoma ran back to Kyiv and tried to forget what had happened. But the evil forces had other plans for him. He was assigned to mourn a young lady who died from beatings. What were Khoma's fear and horror when he recognized her as a familiar witch? Being imprisoned with her in the church, he tried to protect himself in every possible way - he read prayers and drew a protective circle. On the very first night, the girl rose from the dead and tried to take revenge on her abuser. For two nights fate was on the side of the living. On the third, the last night for Khoma, "Viy" himself was called as a young lady. Inhuman fear and the monster's deadly gaze killed the hero.

"Viy" is the personification of a demon, Satan, an evil force. A character who combines all the horrors and fears of the people. Most people died not at his hands, but from animal fear of him, their hearts were simply torn.