King’s envoy, Marquis Jacques Antoine Saturnin d’Urfe, finds himself stranded after losing everything to an attack in the French countryside. Seeking refuge, he stumbles upon a house owned by an elderly man, Gorcha.
The family—comprising Gorcha’s sons Jegor and Piotr, daughter Sdenka, Jegor’s wife Anja, and their son Vlad—is all welcoming, though Gorcha is absent, supposedly off to fight the Turks. Jegor, too, has gone to battle, speaking of an enemy named Alibek.
A man caught between kindness and the terrifying truth (Photo: The Vourdalak/Les Films du Bal and Master Movies)He expresses frustration that Gorcha, who is frail, was allowed to venture out. Jegor is a strong-willed man, while his brother Piotr is more sensitive. Sdenka, their sister, lives in her world, still haunted by a past romance with an outsider that ended tragically.
Jacques takes a special interest in Sdenka, though she seems indifferent to him. She opens up about her love for Jovan, a man she was set to elope with before he died in battle, which shattered her dreams of a future beyond the confines of the house.
Is Gorcha a Vourdalak?
The term “Vourdalak” refers to a vampire in Russian, and it’s clear that Gorcha fits the bill. The film reveals this in a comically absurd way when Gorcha returns during a feast held in his honor. Jacques is taken aback by the sight of Gorcha, who looks like a reanimated corpse.
The rest of the family behaves stiffly, though Jegor acts as if nothing is out of place. This denial continues as Jegor refuses to accept the grim truth about his father.
Gorcha, however, makes his true nature clear when he places Alibek’s severed head on the table and orders Piotr to silence his dog, leading Piotr to kill the animal in compliance.
Despite his monstrous actions, Gorcha remains polite toward Jacques, apologizing for the delay in finding a horse to help him continue his journey, leaving Jacques both stunned and confused.
Does Vlad get eaten by his grandfather?
As is typical with Vourdalaks, Gorcha targets those he loves, and naturally, his grandson Vlad becomes his prey. Though the film doesn’t make it explicit, a shared nightmare experienced by both Jacques and Anja suggests something supernatural at work.
Jacques, who seems to genuinely care for the family, attempts to save Vlad from Gorcha by performing a ritual with the help of Piotr, Anja, and Sdenka. However, Jegor interrupts, unwilling to face the truth about his father.
That night, Jacques makes a final attempt to protect Vlad, but is unable to prevent the grisly fate that befalls him. In one of the year’s most gruesome scenes, Vlad is shown being devoured by his grandfather, a shocking move that some might find unsettling but commendable for its boldness.
Does Jacques save Sdenka?
At its core, The Vourdalak also tells a love story, though it’s a one-sided affair. Jacques harbors feelings for Sdenka, but she never truly reciprocates. Nevertheless, his love drives him to help her escape the horrors happening in the house.
In a house of shadows, the truth lurks in the most unexpected places (Photo: The Vourdalak/Les Films du Bal and Master Movies)Unlike other family members, who are trapped in denial or fear, Sdenka is the one who survives. With their child lost, Anja and Jegor’s fates are sealed, and Piotr lacks the courage to stake his father, leaving him with little hope. Sdenka, while not actively fighting back, is determined to escape her grim reality.
Jacques’ backstory is scant, but he comes across as a genuinely good person. Even when he has the chance to leave with the horse Jegor found, he returns, hoping to rescue Sdenka. Unfortunately, the Vourdalak, disguised as Sdenka, tricks him and leads him to his doom.
Jacques, despite his good intentions, fails to recognize the danger when Sdenka makes advances toward him, caught up in the stressful situation and his feelings for her. However, by returning, Jacques likely knew the risk of not surviving.
The tragic end that the Vourdalak inflicts on him is both heartbreaking and terrifying. Still, Jacques manages to kill the Vourdalak with a stake through its heart. Meanwhile, Sdenka, on the brink of suicide, is stopped by Jacques, who encourages her to pursue her dreams.
Jacques then follows her in death, knowing his sacrifice gave her a chance at freedom.
