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Released in 1952, Finnish cinematic work White Reindeer is considered one of the exceptional forgotten masterpieces in the folklore horror style. Even though it received prizes at the Cannes Film Festival and the Golden Globes during its time, it remained overlooked until a gorgeous digital restoration started doing the rounds in recent years.

Placed on the remote, snow-covered hills of the Arctic region, the movie presents an eerie, completely ethereal dark fairy tale. This territory is occasionally called the Lapland region, though the native Sámi population regard that designation as derogatory.

A Haunting Opening and Metamorphosis

Via a memorable introduction, it is predicted that a newborn Sámi female child will become a witch. She grows into Piriti (portrayed by the actress Mirjami Kuosmanen), a spirited female who rebels against her solitary existence as the wife of a roaming reindeer shepherd.

She seeks relief from a regional medicine person, but possibly because of her innate magic, his love ritual goes wrong and transforms her into a vampire-like shapeshifter, doomed to hunt and consume men in the form of a pale reindeer.

Creative Style and Inspirations

Kuosmanen wrote the screenplay with her spouse, filmmaker and director of photography Blomberg. He combines stunning authentic recordings of Sámi traditions on this moon-like environment with intense stylization that evokes silent-era expressionist filmmakers like Murnau and Lang.

Recorded in monochrome and almost entirely on site in the natural environment, The White Reindeer juxtaposes the glaring snowy whiteness with pitch-black Gothic tableaux, and shifts between them via the in-between dim light of the low Arctic sun.

Unclear and Dreamlike Plot

Even though the plot is uncomplicated and the plot developments are plainly laid out, White Reindeer continues to be ambiguous and surreal. It is ambiguous exactly which historical period it’s taking place.

The motivation of the protagonists' decisions can be unclear, and the individuals appear cut adrift, alone in the immense empty space of their surroundings. Additionally that rare breed of monster movie that keeps its emphasis directly and empathetically on the monster as its central figure.

Kuosmanen channels the silent film legends in a portrayal consumed by sexual frustration and a fierce hunger she cannot completely comprehend.

Memorable Impact

Regardless of its short 68-minute long running time, The White Reindeer can feel leisurely, thanks to its restrained storytelling style. But Kuosmanen’s vivid performance, Blomberg’s astonishing cinematography, and the film's unforgettable allegory for the way a restrictive culture can stigmatize female desire will remain in your memory for a considerable time.