Original subtitles

In the 17th century, Satan was abroad on the Earth

and great was the wrath against those bloodthirsty monstrous beings

to whom tradition has given the name of "vampires".

Brothers did not hesitate to accuse brothers

and fathers accused sons so that the earth might be purified

of that horrible race of blood-devouring assassins.

But before putting them to death,

human justice anticipated divine judgment

by burning into the flesh of those damned ones

the brand of Satan.

Asa, daughter of the House of Vajda,

this High Court of the Inquisition of Moldavia

has declared you guilty.

I, the second-born son of Prince Vajda,

as Grand Inquisitor, do condemn you.

And as your brother, I repudiate you.

Too many evil deeds have you done to satisfy your monstrous love

for that serf of the Devil, Igor Javutich.

May God have pity on your soul

in this, your final hour.

Cover her face with the mask of Satan.

Nail it down!

May the cleansing flames reduce her foul body to ashes

so that the wind will obliterate all trace of her existence.

No! No!

Griabby! It is I who repudiate you,

and in the name of Satan I place a curse upon you.

Go ahead, tie me down to the stake,

but you will never escape my hunger, nor that of Satan!

The unchained elements of the powers of darkness are lying in ambush.

Beware, Griabby! My revenge will strike down you and your accursed house,

and in the blood of your sons and the sons of their sons

I will continue to live, immortal!

They will restore to me the life that you now rob from me.

I shall return to torment and destroy throughout the night of time.

THE MASK OF THE DEMON

As if by the Devil's command,

the sudden fury of the elements extinguishes the purifying flames.

The terrorized people run in fright from that cursed place.

And for all that long night, the church bells toll

to keep away the spirits of evil.

When the wrath is spent, the body of Javutich

is covered with unconsecrated earth

in the burying place reserved for murderers.

And the body of Asa, the witch, is placed in the tomb of her ancestors.

TWO CENTURIES LATER

Coachman, how much further to the crossroads at Mirgorod?

Six or seven miles, sir.

Did you hear that, sir?

If we stop at Mirgorod, we'll never reach Moscow by evening.

It doesn't matter. We can spend the night at the inn at Mirgorod.

Smoked salmon and excellent vodka. We'll be at the conference tomorrow.

But we'll miss the opening address.

Too bad. Dr. Blistanov of St. Petersburg will be there, and Dr. Steiner of Vienna.

- How long have you had your degree? - Three years, Professor.

I've been your assistant for two.

When you've been in the profession as long as I have,

you learn to take all the speeches at these conferences with a grain of salt.

Coachman! Stop!

- Take the forest road, it's shorter. - It's full of holes. No one uses it.

I understand. You're afraid of the witch!

It's not so easy to frighten me, I fought through the war against Napoleon,

But... I'd rather find myself face to face with that cursed Frenchman

than meet up with a ghost.

This will help you to forget all about ghosts.

Come on, now, let's get going!

Go!

Go!

- What's that strange sound? - The wind in the trees.

- What's happened? - That branch reached out to choke me.

Try not to choke on that vodka. Go ahead!

Go!

- Why is he in such a hurry? - Well, between my tip and his fear...

What a mess!

Dear heaven, of all places for this to happen!

- Is it serious? - No, fortunately it just slipped out of the socket.

- I'll have it back as soon as possible. - Good.

It certainly isn't very cheerful here, and that weird sound...

It's coming from there. Let's see what it is.

Mystery solved. It's just the wind in the pipes of an old organ.

Ah! What's happening, my lords?

Nothing, continue your work!

More than a thousand years of conflicts, hates and loves

all reduced to dust in these tombs.

Nothing remains of the ancient princes of Vajda but the memories of their former glory.

The history of old Moldavia is written on these stones.

Andrej, come here.

This is the witch of legend.

This bronze mask was always placed over the face of a condemned witch

so she would wear for all eternity her true face, the face of Satan.

Why the window?

They thought that the witch could be resurrected and they believed

that a cross visible through the glass would keep her nailed down forever.

My lords!

Where are you? Someone had better come and help me with this wheel.

Please don't leave me all alone in this infernal place!

He's scared to death. Go help him. I want to have another look around.

Yes, I prefer to go.

Here, besides the lack of air, there is also a lack of joy.

Professor! Professor Kruvajan, what happened?

- Why did you shoot? - It lunged at me like a wild beast.

Very strange, these animals mostly avoid humans.

Let's get out of here, Professor. We'll be better off outside.

Otherwise the coachman will be convinced that he's right.

Wait.

What are you doing?

Still intact after two centuries!

Professor, you've cut yourself.

You're right, I hadn't noticed. It must have been a shard of glass.

Just a few drops of blood.

Those empty eyes seem to be looking at us.

All right, we'll go.

Who are you? What are you doing here?

I am Professor Kruvajan and this is my assistant, Dr...

Andrej Gorobec.

I was walking in the park and heard a gunshot. What happened?

I killed a bat that attacked me.

Please excuse us for taking the liberty of entering the church,

We thought it was abandoned and we couldn't resist our curiosity.

Everything is so strange and mysterious here.

Everything is going to ruin.

My father, Prince Vajda,

opposes any restoration of this old church.

This is a cursed place for him.

My lords, the wheel is repaired. We can go now.

All right, we're coming. Please excuse us, Princess, but we must go.

There are still 5 miles to Mirgorod.

We will spend the night there.

Allow me not to say goodbye, princess. I hope to see you again.

Thank you. I wish you a pleasant stay in Mirgorod.

Were you enchanted?

What sadness in her eyes!

And this one?

A souvenir of the witch!

It stopped suddenly.

Like a voice that fades away.

Wolves. That's why I couldn't find any tracks of wild deer today in the forest.

No, it sounds like something else out there.

Those are not wolves.

The griffin moved!

Constantine! Katia! Look!

- What is it? - It wasn't painted like that.

- How? - He was alive and now he's dead.

- What are you saying? - I'm certain!

Father's right, it wasn't in that position before.

Katia, that portrait has always had a strange effect on you.

All because you look just like your ancestor.

Don't you see that a mysterious, secret life burns in that figure?

It's like a flame that can't escape. Sometimes I'm afraid to go near it.

Katia!

Maybe Constantine is right. It was just my imagination.

Let's not talk about it anymore.

How cold it is!

A chill seems to come out of the fireplace tonight that penetrates into my bones.

Why don't you go and rest? Your eyes are tired.

No, my eyes aren't tired. My spirit is.

- Go, I want to be alone. - Good night.

Good night.

- Good night, sir. - No, wait.

- Have you been serving this house for many years, Ivan? - I was born here.

Today is the feast of St. George.

You know the legend of the curse that was placed on this castle, right?

Two centuries ago today, two people were executed for practicing witchcraft.

Princess Asa and her accomplice and lover Prince Javutich.

And the mask of Satan was nailed to their faces.

A hundred years later, again on St. George's Day, an earthquake

destroyed the ancient church and split open the witch's tomb,

as if Asa had tried to break out to take her revenge.

In fact, that same night Princess Mascia died mysteriously.

Mascia was beautiful, the very image of the witch.

She was just 21 that day.

Like Katia.

And Katia is her living image. It's as if the witch chose

her victims and tormented them with her beauty before killing them.

The similarity,

and Asa's incredible recurring revenge, terrifies me.

You mustn't be afraid, my lord. The cross will protect you.

Even if you are right, those monsters are terrified of the sacred symbol.

- Always carry it with you and you'll be safe. - You're right, Ivan.

It's the atmosphere surrounding this cursed day that has upset me so.

Drink, sir, or it will get cold.

Death! I've seen death!

It's a warning! But I'll defend myself!

They will not win against the sacred symbol of Christ!

- Dances? - With pleasure!

- Is everything okay, gentlemen? - Yes, thank you.

You were right, Professor, this vodka is great.

Right now I feel as if I could conquer the world.

Starting with the castle. Someone there made quite an impression on you.

What a great idea! A couple more glasses...

and I set off.

Go to sleep, it's easier to win over a princess in a dream.

- We have to wake up early tomorrow. - You're right.

- I'll tell them to call us at 5. - No, I'll take care of it.

I'll take a little walk and then tell the innkeeper.

- Good night. - Thank you.

Watch out for bats!

And you, watch your head!

- No, no! - Always the same stories!

- I don't want to go! - I can't go, I have so much work!

Isn't it a shame that a girl her age

is afraid to milk a cow in the barn? - You're right.

But the barn is near the old cemetery.

- Don't be afraid. The dead don't hurt anyone. - Do you hear that?

I'm coming! Hurry up, I'm busy!

I'll go tonight, but tomorrow I won't!

Hello, Nerina.

Javutich!

Javutich, arise! Arise!

Good, Nerina. Are you scared now too?

What a storm!

No!

Father!

- Father! - No!

Father, what's wrong? It's me, Katia!

- We need a doctor, but where? - At the inn!

At the chapel I met two doctors who were staying at Mirgorod.

- Quick, wake up the stableman! - Here I am, master!

- I heard screaming... - Go to the inn and bring a doctor here!

- Doctor Kruvajan! - Yes?

Princess Vajda sent me. Her father is very ill.

- Please come to the castle. - I'm coming.

- I have to notify the inn. - No need, I took care of it.

It was there that they told me where to find you.

Ah. Very well, then.

Hey!

Kruvajan.

Kruvajan, I was waiting for you.

I still need you. Look me in the eyes.

Look me in the eyes!

Come closer. A few drops of your blood have given me life again.

All your blood will give me the strength to take my revenge.

Come, kiss me.

My burning lips will transform you.

You will be dead to men, but you will be alive in death!

Calm down.

- Why is Boris taking so long? - He'll be here soon.

Courage, Katia.

The griffin... in the painting.

- What is he saying? - He's delirious.

Only the cross can save us.

It's the cursed day!

Did you call me?

Thanks for coming, it looks very serious.

I'll take a look at him. You may go now.

What's wrong with him, doctor?

Nothing serious. He's just had a slight shock.

We were sleeping and suddenly we heard him screaming.

He was here trembling and had this crucifix in his hand,

as if he wanted to repel a hideous apparition.

Take it away! He mustn't see it. It might provoke another attack.

Our eternal sleep has been broken. You were able to do it.

You tore me from the earth that weighed me down like lead.

This time you are not alone.

I will bring you her body. She will be your victim.

She was born for this fate. She is your living image.

Let fate be fulfilled, Asa.

In her you will live again, speak again, and smile as she does.

And we will go back to living like we used to.

- Go to sleep, Dad's fine. - I'm not tired.

You both go. I'll stay here.

Oh, dear, those dogs keep howling so! Ivan, try to quiet them.

Go, Constantine, I'll watch over him.

- I'll call you if necessary. - All right, then.

What's going on? Hush, hush.

- Doctor? - I thought you were asleep.

Go and rest. I will stay and watch over your father.

You have to leave tomorrow morning.

Don't worry, I can stay all night.

- He's much calmer, isn't he? - Yes, he'll have a peaceful night.

You don't have to worry. Go and rest. You need it.

Doctor, I don't know how to thank you.

- Let me call if you need anything. - It won't be necessary.

Your room is across the corridor here. Good night, and thank you again.

Good night.

Katia! Katia!

Katia!

- Poor Dad! - No!

Doctor Kruvajan! Doctor Kruvajan!

Wait, Katia! Don't go!

Katia, don't look!

Doctor Kruvajan?

Doctor Kruvajan?

It's me, Andrej.

- Your friend isn't here. - Isn't he?

They called him to the castle last night.

It seems that Prince Vajda was suddenly taken seriously ill.

- Why didn't he bring me with him? - Maybe he didn't want to disturb you.

My daughter saw him get in the carriage that came from the castle to pick him up.

- Could I have a horse? - Of course, come.

Be careful not to drop the basket!

Excuse me, is this the shortcut to the castle?

Yes, when you get to the cross, take the one going uphill!

Oh, please! I told you not to play around here!

Be careful not to fall in the water!

Doctor Kruvajan!

Who are you? What do you want?

I am Dr. Gorobec. I was told that Dr. Kruvajan is here.

Yes. We called him to attend my father, who had a sudden attack of shock.

We left the doctor alone with him, but he went away.

If he hadn't left my father alone like this, he might still be alive.

I must say, I don't understand your colleague's strange behavior in this case.

You're right. I don't know how to explain it.

I'm more surprised than you. I know the professor very well by now.

I don't understand. Something serious must have happened. There's no doubt about it.

It's very strange. When I left the inn, he still hadn't returned.

He's not there?

Please, come up.

My God! It's Boris, the Vajda stableman!

It's really him, poor Boris! Who brought him here?

The river. Can't you see he's dead?

Ah...

- Katia! - Let's get her out of here!

- Where is her room? - This way.

Quickly, some water!

The features of his face have changed. It's scary, like the face of Satan.

- It makes me sick to see it. - It's horrible!

- It's as if the Devil devoured him from the inside! - Silence.

They are already so saddened by their father's death!

Ivan! What's this all about?

- They found Boris's body by the stream. - The body?

Yes, sir. You should see how he looks!

His eyes are bulging, his teeth are bared, and his hands are clenched.

- Where is he now? - We carried him into the sacristy.

The parish priest is with him.

- You there... - Me?

Yes, come here.

Did you see the carriage that came to pick up the professor?

Yes. I saw it as I was coming back from the barn,

but it wasn't Boris who was driving the carriage. I know Boris well.

- It was someone I'd never seen before. - Are you sure?

- Yes, my lord. - I'm going to see Boris's body.

I need you to come with me and tell me everything you know, okay?

- It's very important. - Certainly. I'll tell you everything.

- Poor Boris! - Go back to your houses. Go on.

Go on.

It's him!

- Yes, it's him! - Who is he?

The man who came to pick up Dr. Kruvajan.

I swear, gentlemen! It's him, I'm sure of it!

I saw him well because the moon was shining on his face.

What are these fantasies about a person dead for centuries?

Enough of this, or we'll all go mad!

Calm down, princess.

I'm going to the village, but I'll be back. Try to be brave.

We'd be glad to have you stay here with us tonight, Doctor.

Yes, please, we'll feel much safer.

It's incredible. He died in the same horrible way as the Prince.

Those bites seem like the work of a wild beast that merely bites its victims.

I am a doctor and I only believe in science, but this time...

What can we say about Professor Kruvajan?

It doesn't seem possible that a man such as he could abandon a patient

and disappear without saying anything.

I stopped by the inn, but he still hadn't come back,

and the innkeeper's daughter insists that a man in a portrait

is the same as the driver who came last night to fetch Professor Kruvajan.

- I don't understand. - The man in the portrait, did you say?

Yes, the portrait near the fireplace. An old 17th-century painting.

- A man in black with a griffin embroidered on his chest? - Yes, why?

Nothing. Nothing.

Prince Constantine would like you to prepare the funeral for tomorrow.

Very well. Everything will be ready tomorrow morning.

Go.

Help!

Help me! Help me!

- What happened, Katia? - What's wrong, princess?

- There's someone hiding in my room! - Let's go!

Ivan, watch the stairs!

Behind that curtain!

- There's nobody there. - You must have imagined it.

No, I clearly saw a hand reflected in the mirror!

You don't believe me, do you? But I saw her, Constantine! I saw her!

- I'll get her a sedative. - Believe me, Constantine.

Professor Kruvajan, it's you! You frightened me.

I've been looking for you all day.

- What's wrong? - Go away, Andrej.

Go far away. Don't get involved in things that don't concern you.

Since you didn't come to the inn, I brought your luggage here for you.

Look, I was just trying to decipher this inscription.

Professor!

Clever, Brunel!

- They bled them dry. - Yes, and I think maybe...

Quick, bring everything into the hall.

This is where the coffin will be set up.

- Did he run away like a demon? - Yes, when I showed him the icon.

He disappeared without any explanation.

It is very difficult to translate these ancient Cyrillic inscriptions.

You have to find the key word.

I'll compare it with some texts I have in the library.

Father, my sister was very shocked by what happened.

I'd appreciate it if you could urge her to leave the castle.

Princess!

I hope I'm not bothering you.

No, I felt desperate and alone...

I understand, but you don't have to be down.

You must always have faith in yourself, in life.

In life? My life is only bitterness and pain.

Something that is destroyed little by little and that no one rebuilds.

Here is the picture of my life.

Look: It was consumed day by day like this garden.

Abandoned to a purposeless existence.

It's a condition that can be changed and depends only on you.

There is no reason to follow the fate of this castle.

Go far away from here and you will be happy again, Katia.

Forgive me if I call you by name.

And remember, I'd be happy to help.

You are very kind, but today everything seems hopeless to me.

I feel a sense of terror, a premonition of death,

of being destroyed by something that's inside me.

How I wish I had your faith, your strength.

You mustn't give up, Katia.

Sometimes everything seems dark, but even here, in this garden,

the sun will come to chase away the shadows of the night.

Andrej, please help.

Please help me.

Without you I wouldn't have had the courage to go on.

In moments like these it's difficult to find the right words, but...

when this is all over... Katia...

Thank you, Andrej. Thank you.

Sorry, but if I hadn't done that everything would have caught fire.

Strange. Who knows what's back here.

Doctor, when Ivan was putting out a fire that had started in a hanging

he ripped through this canvas.

- Look. - Be careful.

It's completely dark.

- It's a secret passage! - Incredible!

So my father wasn't delirious!

His last words were "the silver griffin"

and "the man in the portrait".

Here I found the dogs slaughtered after Dr. Kruvajan disappeared!

Let's go!

Stay, Ivan, and be careful that the door doesn't close!

Yes, sir.

It's the same girl in the painting in the living room!

- It's the witch! - How did you know about her?

I saw her when Dr. Kruvajan and I visited the abandoned chapel.

Wait.

Two days ago, this tomb was intact, and the witch...

Look! She's breathing! We're in the presence of some unnatural mystery.

I must talk to the priest. You return to the castle. Don't leave Katia alone.

Go out that way, you'll get to the stables quicker.

Ivan! Ivan!

The powers of the Devil have been unleashed!

The ancient words on the icon explain exactly what must be done.

We must find the tomb of Javutich before sunset!

Ah!

- Father! - Yes?

The mask of Satan. Like the one I saw over the witch's face.

It's just as I had feared. We'll find him buried here.

Look! A freshly dug grave.

Open the coffin!

It's Doctor Kruvajan!

He was still alive last night!

- I saw him! - No, he was already dead.

But it's impossible, Father.

He moved, even spoke to me. Then he ran away.

Sometimes Satan, with his capacity of doing evil,

even plays tricks with the dead.

See? This is the proof.

Now we must find a way for his poor soul to rest in peace.

How?

The inscription on the icon indicates the only way.

Now finally the spell is broken.

Poor Kruvajan.

We must take action. Everything is clear now.

The witch had turned him into a slave of the Devil.

Dead during the day, but alive at night,

so he could carry out Satan's nefarious orders.

- Then the Prince, too? - Yes. We mustn't waste time.

- The witch might come back to life. - How?

- By possessing the body of a young woman. - Katia!

Yes, Katia! Hurry back to the castle! It's late!

Before nightfall, the witch must be pierced in the left eye.

Go! I will do the same to the body of Boris, which is still in the sacristy.

Then I'll join you!

Constantine? Ivan?

Ivan?

Constantine?

Is anyone there? Where are you?

Constantine!

Ah!

Help! Help!

Ah!

Help! Where are you?

Help!

Constantine! Andrej!

Help me, Father! Help me!

Dear God, don't leave me alone with all these horrors!

Ah!

Father?

Father!

I am no longer your father. My blood is no longer your blood.

The evil spirits have forever dissolved the bond between us,

and an accursed poison flows through your veins!

No!

Ah!

Constantine! Ivan!

Open up!

At last your vengeance is at hand, Asa.

Now you will be free forever.

Katia!

Constantine! Where are you?

Katia! Constantine!

Katia!

You did not know that you were born for this moment.

You didn't know that your life had been consecrated to me by Satan,

but deep down you felt it, didn't you?

That's why my portrait fascinated you so much and scared you.

You felt your life and your body were mine.

You felt like me because you were destined to become me,

a restless soul in a dormant body.

The love that young man had for you could have saved you.

You might have been happy together, but I was stronger, and now

you shall enjoy a new existence made of evil and hatred.

Ah!

- Constantine. - Don't worry about me.

Save Katia. Don't waste time.

Save Katia from the witch.

Katia!

Katia, thank heaven that I've arrived in time.

Yes, she wanted to kill me.

Do something before it's too late. I haven't been able to.

- Quickly! - Yes, you're right.

We must destroy her forever, and I know how it can be done.

Don't look, Katia. It's horrible, but I must do it.

But this is your cross.

Katia! How is this possible?

I do not understand.

Alone.

No, I am not your love. There she lies, dead.

Destroyed, gone forever.

And with Katia my vengeance is complete.

All of her family is destroyed. All!

Andrej, look into my eyes the way Kruvajan did that night,

and, like him, lose yourself deep in my eyes.

Don't you feel the joy and the beauty of hating?

Look at me.

Doctor!

She's the witch!

Don't be deceived by her face! Look at her body!

She is transforming herself into Katia by draining her life's blood.

Take her! She's the witch!

- Death to her! - Death to the witch!

Two centuries ago, a storm prevented the flames from destroying

the wicked soul of the witch,

but today, finally, the purification is accomplished.

The innocent victims broke the spell of evil.

Why was Katia taken away from me, Father?

And she is dying with Katia's beauty.

Katia,

my life ends now too.

How can I ever forget her?

How can I resign myself?

I will never find peace.

Look, her young body... destroyed.

Ah!

Father!

Katia.

END