This appears to be among the scarce number of horror films produced during the Soviet period, and it works effectively by tapping into the anxieties of people living in the countryside who seem easily frightened. Leonid Kuravlyov portrays "Khoma," a young priest tasked with guarding the body of a deceased woman. He is confined within a small wooden church overnight and must defend her from malevolent spirits rising from somewhere deep, threatening to taint both her and himself. The central figure, “Viy,” represents the most formidable of these demons, intent on tempting this young man—but will his faith and inner fortitude be enough? I found myself enjoying it considerably; perhaps the script feels a little dense at times, but the visual effects are enjoyable, and there's (intentional) humor interspersed with chaotic moments as coffins – along with their contents – fly through the church, startling the frightened "Khoma" and those around him. The ending is something you really need to experience firsthand. Don’t be discouraged by the initial few minutes, which have a fairytale quality; it's just as diverting as what Hammer Films was releasing in the late 1960s, and there are some memorable supporting characters that keep things moving at a brisk pace for eighty minutes.

Source on TMDB