The Whirlpool
2023 |1h 35min | Horror | Thriller | Mystery | English | 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 behavior 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.
LIST OF FESTIVALS
VIFF - Vienna Independent Film Festival | Vienna | Austria
Grand Prix | Best Actor: Wolfgang Cerny
SENSEI FILMFEST Tokyo | Japan
Best directing | Best cinematography | Best Art Direction & Makeup SFX |Best CGI & Visual Effects
Anatomy: Crime – Horror International Film Festival | Greece
Best directing | Best Picture | Best Sound Design | Best Actor Volfgang Cherny | Best Original Score | People’s Choice Best Picture
WORLDFILMGEEK Awards | USA
Best Foreign Film of 2023
Five Continents International Film Festival | Venezuela
Best Horror Featured Film
SFAAF South Film and Academy Festival | Chile
Special Awards Featured Film
Sacramento Independent Film Festival | Italy
Foreign Featured Best Film
Horror Film Festival Barcelona | Spain
Best Mystery
Costa Brava Film Festival | Spain
Best Edit
Manhattanhenge Film Festival 2023 | Los-Angeles — New York | USA
Best Thriller Film
Iconic Images Film Festival | Vilnius | Lithuania
Best Horror | Mystery | Thriller Film
Best Thriller Film
New York True Venture Film Festival | NYTFF | USA
Best Music Score — Andrey Kliminov
Symbiotic Film Festival | Kiev | Ukraine
Best Horror / Thriller Film
Golden Nugget International Film Festival | United Kingdom
Best Featured Film
European Cinematography Awards (ECA) | Amsterdam | Holland
Best Featured Film Cinematography — Hayk Kirakosyan
XI Fantastic and Terror Film Festival in Tàrrega - GALACTICAT | Spain
Best BSO — Andrey Kliminov
Los Angeles Cinematography Awards (LACA) | USA
Best Featured Film Cinematography — Hayk Kirakosyan
Vancouver International Movie Awards | Canada
Best Cinematography in Featured Film— Hayk Kirakosyan
Stockholm City Film Festival | Sweden
Best Horror Film
Boden International Film Festival | Sweden
Best Experimental Film, Best Horror
Europa Film Festival | Barcelona | Spain
Best Thriller Featured Film
Play CG VFX breakdown 1:35