The White Reindeer

I really like this one, i think it's one of the best old Finnish movies. The landscapes and photography are beautiful, which is not very surprising for film shooted in Lapland, and the movie itself is interesting in terms of plot and style. The story is based into old folk-story, so it is quite different and unique plot for horror movie. The cast, especially Mirjami Kuosmanen and Åke Lindman, made good job in this one.

As people have many times said, this movie is not very scary, but how many old horror flicks are? I don't recall being very scared in any movie made 1950's or earlier. This movie is still very interesting and unique. It's a great part of the history of Finnish cinema. I recommend this for all fans of old black and white movies.

I recently watched the Finnish film 🇫🇮 The White Reindeer (1952) on Shudder. The storyline follows a woman living in an isolated village on the snowy plains of Finland who, after a mystical encounter involving a reindeer, is cursed with a vampiric affliction and begins a haunting killing spree.

The film is directed by Erik Blomberg (Kihlaus) and stars Mirjami Kuosmanen (Puck), Åke Lindman (The Unknown Soldier), and Aarne Tarkas (The Wild North).

I really enjoyed this movie for what it was-and what the filmmakers were able to accomplish with the resources they had. At its core, it's a folkloric tale, and the snow-covered landscape and mountainous backdrop give it an eerie, mysterious atmosphere. The film does a great job portraying the way of life and attitudes toward nature in this remote community, setting up the story's strange events with authenticity and depth.

The acting, costumes, and settings all feel impressively genuine, drawing you into the film's unique world. The cultural depiction was compelling, and there's even a wild reindeer-wrestling scene that was a standout.

The story itself is a refreshingly unique take on the vampire mythos-unlike anything I've seen before. I especially loved the dramatic, haunting score. While the horror elements are mostly conveyed through cutaways, they work well against the stark black-and-white visuals. The ending isn't quite as dramatic as the build-up, but it still lands well.

In conclusion, The White Reindeer is a well-crafted Finnish folk-horror film that tells its story effectively within the context of its era. I'd give it a 6-6.5/10 and recommend it-with the right expectations-for fans of atmospheric, culturally rooted horror.

This is a legend of magic made into a film by sustained cínematographic magic. The photo is stunning all through the film, and the actors, although saving their dialogue as much as possible, are all convincing and genuinely Lapponic. This must be the best film ever made about the Lapps for its outstanding genuineness - there is no other film like it. Einar Englund has composed a sustained score that keeps underscoring the film perpetually all the way, which only adds to the magic and spiritual impression of the sinister winter nature of Lapland, where the film was made. The legend tells the story of a beautiful young woman who apparently was born a witch, which she only becomes aware of herself when her husband goes away on business and she feels lonely and consults a drinking warlock in search of a relief from her loneliness. He discovers with terror that she is a born witch and unintentionally releases her powers, which consists of her being transformed into a white reindeer occasionally, in which capacity she can tempt any Lapp to hunt her, whom she devours when he captures the reindeer, in which moment she triumphs as herself and the witch he is. Things get complicated when her own husband finally hunts her down.

It's a unique film of irresistible beauty, charm and magic, and no other film can actually be compared with it. It's a timeless film to return to with relish occasionally when you need something out of the ordinary.

I recently got a chance to see this on the big screen and it is definitely a special film. Filmed in Lapland, nearly everyone moves about in this film on skis or reindeer-drawn toboggan. The lonely snow-covered landscapes lightly dotted with trees, humans, and curving herds of reindeer look beautiful in black and white. The film capitalizes on the mythic and mystic nature of the landscape and the land--The Land of the Midnight Sun. What a perfect setting for a film about love, loneliness, fears of abandonment, and, of course, vampires. The horror is a subtle one and even now barely verges on the campy (thanks to the uniqueness of its setting). The strange shots of the sun hovering on the horizon and of reindeer stampeding across the snow only enhance this bizarre tale. The main actress is quite stunning and plays the balance of her role well. A definite treat for fans of foreign or horror films.

Mirjami Kuosmanen (Pirita) is a witch who marries reindeer-herder Kalervo Nissila (Aslak) in a Sami community in Lapland. Nissila is often absent and Kuosmanen gets lonely. After visiting a shaman, she goes through a ritual that will make her more attractive to her husband as well as to every other herdsman. However, she is already a witch and the combination of these events allows her to shapeshift into a white reindeer every night, where she lures men to follow her. Not a good move for any herdsmen who take up the chase....

This film has an interesting setting in the bleak snow forest in Finland amongst an indigenous community. We get a cool genre of film following the story of a vampire shapeshifting witch who wants love but is also deadly. Kuosmanen is good in the lead role and has the perfect look for the witch, especially when she is being evil.

If you come across a white reindeer, do not follow it!

In fact, there are loads of bad white things. If you come across white chocolate, do not eat it as it contains zero chocolate. The Ku Klux Clan dressed in white and Essex girls wear white stilletos.