The Whirlpool
2023 |1h 35min | Horror | Thriller | Mystery | Producer Olga Loyanich | Director Den Hook
Play Trailer 1:35
The feature-length elevated horror tells a story of a woman unable to stand up for herself and seeking help from shamans, ancient spirits, and occult rituals. The film follows the current trend for psychological horrors (“Reincarnation,” “Solstice,” “Babadook”) delving into the inner darkness that emerges inside an individual rather than from external threats such as the otherworld or the criminal underworld. Starring Lenkom theater actress Alyona Mitroshina (from "Blight" and "Sixteen+"), Vyacheslav Chepurchenko (from "Legend #17," "Bugs," and "Treason"), Wolfgang Cerny (from "T-34," "Red Ghost," and "Tell Her"), Catherine Solomatina (from "Unchildish Orphanage" and "The Golovlevs"), and Maxim Khanzhov (from "Silver Skates).
The narrative of the film is set against the backdrop of familiar myths and archetypes. Its rich visuals, drawing upon the imagery and texture of Russian folklore, create a frightening atmosphere for the personal story of a woman on the verge of insanity. The shooting took place in Veliky Novgorod, with the city’s nature and landmarks playing a pivotal role in establishing the film's dark, mystical atmosphere, the "Russian Gothic," as the creators put it. This atmosphere is comprised of the images created by Vasnetsov, Vrubel and contemporary artists, along with traditional Russian folk tunes and poems from the Silver Age. The scenery not only provides a bleak and thrilling backdrop, but also reinforces the film's central theme: our behaviour is heavily influenced by the unconscious. This is echoed in the Nietzschean quote that serves as the film's slogan: "If you stare long enough into the abyss, the abyss stares back into you.”
"Omut" raises many issues relevant to contemporary society, including family violence and the commodification of spiritual practices which turned from a sacrament into a trendy entertainment that might carry risks and even dangers.
The film was released by the Nashe Kino company in major Russian cities and received strong support from prominent media outlets. It will later become available on Russian and foreign streaming platforms.
Play CG VFX breakdown 1:35