[Demdike@Cult Labs]

The White Reindeer (1952)

With her husband away for long periods at a time a new bride visits a local shaman in a view to alleviating her boredom and loneliness. However the shaman's magic also turn the woman into a predatory shapeshifting vampire like white reindeer who preys on the men in her village.

Based on Finnish folklore this is a remarkable film. Shot on location in a sea of white snow, the visuals are both striking and very eerie. The reindeer of the title features a lot and whilst for the most part it simply roams the arctic tundra, the transformations are achieved in minimalistic style.

I've always wanted to see The White Reindeer and was delighted to purchase the Eureka dual format edition. It's an interesting experience even if there aren't any actual scares but the look into Finnish folklore is compelling and reminiscent of the Russian legend of the Wurdulak.