Reindeer Horror

A classic Finnish horror film is coming to Hastings, exploring themes of loneliness and the supernatural. The White Reindeer is a fantasy tale of witches and vampiric reindeer curses that will leave you spellbound.

Dir: Erik Blomberg

Cast: Mirjami Kuosmanen, Kalervo Nissilä, Åke Lindman, Jouni Tapiola, Arvo Lehesmaa, Tyyne Haarla, Kauko Laurikainen, Pentti Irjala

68 mins · 1952 · Finland · Finnish

IMDb 6.9/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 100% · TMDB 6.6/10 · Trakt 70%

Awards: 5 wins & 1 nomination total

The White Reindeer

6 Dec 2026

Electric Palace Hastings

In the frozen landscapes of Finnish Lapland, a young woman's desperation for affection leads her to seek the help of a shaman, unleashing a dark and deadly force. The White Reindeer, directed by Erik Blomberg, is a haunting tale of loneliness, magic, and the supernatural. • The film features a talented cast, including Mirjami Kuosmanen and Jouni Tapiola, and is based on pre-Christian Finnish mythology and Sami shamanism. • With a runtime of just 68 minutes, this 1952 classic packs a punch, earning numerous awards, including the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film in 1956. • The White Reindeer will be screened at the Electric Palace Hastings on Sunday, 6 December 2026, as part of the Strange Frames season, which celebrates the offbeat and arcane in cinema; tickets are with the button beside the article.

The White Reindeer has received widespread critical acclaim for its atmospheric cinematography, haunting imagery, and stark premise, with many praising its unique blend of magic neorealism and documentary-style filmmaking. With its fine balance of horror and fantasy elements, this film is sure to captivate audiences and leave a lasting impression.

Stills

What viewers say

A Rival Appears · 5/10

Fine for what is is but I think, for modern viewers, it's best approached as more a relic/oddity than a horror movie. Some very pretty shots and good camera work, but there's also so many boring "documentary" feeling shots that somehow make a short movie feel twice as long.

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csrz · 8/10

I'm not a big fan of vampire films in general but I'm glad when I found a good one. This horror tale centers on a newly married young woman who becomes frustrated and lonely as her husband, a reindeer herder for a small Arctic village, spends so much time away from home in devotion to his work. She seeks the help of a shaman but it comes at a terrible cost. A good ol' be-careful-of-what-you-wish-for story set around Christmas time in a dreamy…

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