Deaf Crocodile and DiabolikDVD will release the 1980 Russian folk horror movie The Savage Hunt of King Stakh on Blu-ray in July 2024.
Directed by Valeri Rubinchik, and newly restored by Craig Rogers, Deaf Crocodile Co-Founder and Head of Post-Production and Restoration, The savage Hunt of King Stakhin its 2-hour Director’s Cut version for its first-ever North American Blu-ray release.
A mystical drama based on a story by V. Korotkevich. The film is set in out-of-the-way Belarusian woodlands at the end of the 19th century. A young ethnographer, Andrej Bielarecki, comes here to research local folk legends.
The story is based on the folklore of The Wild Hunt, which in recent history has most notably been part of the story of The Witcher 3.
- Brand-new restoration of the Director’s Cut of the film by Craig Rogers for Deaf Crocodile.
- Slipcase edition offers 60-page illustrated booklet including:
- New essay by film historian & professor Peter Rollberg (Historical Dictionary of Russian and Soviet Cinema).
New essay by film critic Walter Chaw (Film Freak Central). - 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.
- ”The Wild, Wild Hunt of King Stakh” — new video essay by film historian Evan Chester.
- Video introduction by filmmaker and author Kier-La Janisse (WOODLANDS DARK AND DAYS BEWITCHED: A HISTORY OF FOLK HORROR).
- Blu-ray authoring by David Mackenzie of Fidelity In Motion.
- New art by Beth Morris and comics artist David W. Mack (“Kabuki”, Marvel Comics’ “Echo”)
