Supernatural (TV Mini Series) Viktoria (1977) User Reviews

Disturbing Tale of Retribution

[l_rawjalaurence · 7/10 · 15 November 2014]

Paul (Lewis Fiander) is a typical example of a misogynist, purposely driving his sick wife Elızabeth (Mia Nadasi) to an early death from a heart attach and marrying Theresa (Catherine Schell) instead. The death causes considerable trauma in the family, not least in the mind of aging governess Kati (Susan Richards), prompting her to vow revenge, chiefly accomplished through a strange doll, belonging to Paul's daughter Viktoria (Genevieve West).

"VIKTORIA" is a good example of how the BBC overcame budgetary restrictions to produce an enthralling piece of horror. With very few exterior shots, the production was shot mostly on video-tape, using zooms and close-ups to achieve its dramatic effect. The scene where Elizabeth perishes in her wheelchair is an early example, as the camera shows her lifeless face and then cuts back to Paul's expressions of mock-sorrow. Later on it is Paul's turn to experience suffering as he falls back and hits his head on a stone fireplace; the camera focuses on his expression of pure horror as he discovers that he has to bear the consequences of his rash action. Director Peter Sasdy makes us aware of the unearthly power at work through repeated close-ups of the doll staring blankly into space, yet at the same time curiously alive.

The unearthly nature of the story is emphasized through the use of contrast, between the young Viktoria - apparently possessed by a spirit - and Miss Graham (Judy Cornwell), a governess relying on her oh-so-British sang froid to keep her sane throughout the drama. She reveals some uncomfortable truths about Paul's life, that help to explain why he murdered his first wife.

With Paul Lewis' music adding atmosphere to the entire play, this is a compelling piece of tele-horror, well worth watching.

Demonia, Doll of the Damned

[Oslo_Jargo · 7/10 · 26 May 2024]

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

*Plot and ending analyzed*

Quite a splendid little teleplay emphasizing the particular era of Victorian horror.

A hooded person walks into some gentleman's occult club with a written story to tell the members to see if they can seek admittance.

It details the fractious relationship between a conceited Englishman and his equally thoughtless European wife, who is an invalid, and also a bit of a valetudinarian. She takes pills for her heart and one day is unable to get to the pill case. Her husband intentionally delays, and she dies. Her old European female caretaker is horrified by her death and seems to put some type of preternatural animation in a strange doll that the young daughter takes a fancy to later. Apparently she may be a practitioner of the occult or malefic witchery. Well, the unusual doll seeks revenge against the indifferent husband. Is the doll the reincarnated mother, some demonic spirit, a rancorous life force? We have to guess it seems, and that is why it is so interesting. And the ending was absolutely sumptuous to behold.

One interesting note to add, the wonderful Norwegian writer Knut Hamsun wrote two books with the title of "Rosa" and "Victoria", which are both the names of the young daughter and of the bizarre doll. I wonder if the writer of the teleplay was not influenced by Hamsun in some way.

The only episode of Supernatural not written by Robert Muller is also one if its best

[dr_clarke_2 · 9/10 · 20 September 2020]

'Viktoria' is the only episode of Supernatural not written by Robert Muller. With Sue Lake instead taking over scripting duties, it's also one of the better episodes, although it isn't quite like anything else in the series.

The story concerns the Strickland family, with the cruel Paul Strickland causing the death of his wheelchair-bound first wife Elizabeth Strickland by denying her tablets to her, prompting housekeeper Kati to give their daughter Viktoria a terrifying-looking doll called Rosa. When the Stricklands move back to England and Paul marries his second wife - Theresa - it starts to become clear that there is more to the doll than meets the eye, but in a novel twist, it isn't Theresa who ends up suffering its wrath.

There are tropes present in 'Viktoria' that are familiar to fans of horror films and television, most notably a creepy child and a sinister, haunted doll. But what is really interesting about the episode is Lake's characterisation. Unusually for a BBC drama in 1977, Paul Strickland is revealed to be gay, with his two wives both for appearance whilst he instead sleeps with his male lover, whilst Viktoria mocks governess Mrs Graham's closet lesbianism and Mrs Graham and Theresa are implied to become a couple at the end. Defying audience expectations, it is Paul who is the intended victim of Rosa - implied to be possessed by the spirit of Elizabeth - rather than Theresa.

The dialogue is less florid and therefore more believable than in Muller's episodes, and the cast members give fine performances, especially Catherine Schell as Theresa and Lewis Fiander as Paul. Genevieve West proves well cast in the role of Viktoria, making the child increasingly unpleasant and sinister as the episode unfolds. The episode also has some genuine chills: Peter Sasdy directs and provides some of what would now be termed "jump scares", whilst managing to make Rosa very creepy.

If there's a flaw here it is obvious from the moment that the supplicant arrives at the Club of the Damned wearing a mask that she is a woman, and by this point in the series it is equally obvious that she is a now-adult Viktoria. But this is a minor criticism: for the most part, 'Viktoria' is one of the Supernatural's highlights.

A fantastic installment

[eppingdrwho · 5 August 2017]

Again this episode has nothing that can be faulted, it has a fascinating macabre plot, excellent sets, a stellar cast of actors and actresses, great cinematography, costumes, look and feel. It is like most episodes delivered as if a period drama or taking place on a grand stage and this really influences the Gothic nature of the piece. Elements such as the interesting of Hungarian, the revelations, the homoerotic themes and most intriguingly the well realised 'Rosa', really leave the viewer craving for more. A plot revolving around a doll which has consciousness feeds back into the old Ealing Horror 'Dead of Night', but here it is given a more familial twist. Perfection!