Shtolnya

"Shtolnya" is a film that, unfortunately, has been somewhat overlooked, despite being a significant attempt in Ukrainian cinema to create an engaging and meaningful story. Made on a limited budget, the film demonstrates considerable potential for its time and seeks to address important social and historical themes that are not easily portrayed on screen.

Considering the budget limitations and technical resources of that era, "Shtolnya" looks entirely respectable. For Ukrainian cinema, which was in its formative stages, it was an attempt not only to create an entertaining film but also to provide a deeper reflection on the societal situation at the time, which was crucial.

The film skillfully blends elements of drama and thriller, giving it tension and realism. The actors do a great job of conveying the atmosphere and emotional context, allowing the audience to easily immerse themselves in the plot.

It's worth noting that "Shtolnya" deserves more attention from viewers, especially those who appreciate stories reflecting the Ukrainian context. Despite certain limitations, the film provides an opportunity to appreciate how Ukrainian cinema is trying to find its place and evolve.

It's not a masterpiece, but for its time and within its budget, it's a solid project that deserves re-evaluation and a fresh perspective from viewers.

I have watched it and surprisingly it's actually great. The atmosphere just makes this film interesting. Also, the ending of the film is just cool. There are jumpscares in this film. I like this film and it's a masterpiece. The soundtracks of this film are great. The plot involves 5 students of the Faculty of History being sent to the practice which ended up going wrong. In this film, the head of the young seekers of Antiquities told the 5 students that during the war the musuem staff had hidden above a statue of the pagan god named "Perun" somewhere in the dungeons outside of the city. This film is one of the best films i have ever watched. This film interested me. Also, this film reminds me of that one horror game named "Until Dawn". This film is seriously underrated.

To be honest with you, I have no idea why people gave this movie such a low ranking. I mean, without a doubt, it's not a movie that would get nominated for an Oscar, yet at the same time as the first ever Ukrainian-language teen-horror movie in the history of Ukraine, it should get some well-deserved praise.

I mean with the current Ukrainian market flooded with big-budget Hollywood movies and crap-quality Russian movies, a movie where characters speak Ukrainian naturally, rather than being dubbed into Ukrainian, is like a gulp of fresh air.

I give this move 8/10, because it's the first ever Ukrainian- language teen-horror movie that would be great to watch in a company of fellow Ukrainians when you just want to relax and have some fun.

UPD. Turns out movie director, Liubomyr Levytskyi also dubbed the movie into Ukrainian (tl:dr, even though movie was actually shot in Ukrainian, Levytskyi believed that dubbing the moview would make it sound more "Hollywood like". Makes no sense but that's what it is)