I've read a few reviews of this and some reviewers are disappointed that it's not fast paced and there isn't much gore and blood here and it's not really scary. Well, that's 'cause it's not really a horror movie (despite often labeled as such), the main message here is social. USSR just did never make exploitation (i.e. recreational) movies. Horror scenes here are added only to provide a bit of colour and expression.
The film starts with the depiction of a religious college - the rector knows perfectly well that his students doesn't really care 'bout studying 'n God 'n 'religion 'n other silly stuff. Students on their part do not care that the rector takes bribes from the local rich man. Everyone pretends it's al fine and proper - common picture that can be seen in 21st century colleges.
Later, the rich man delivers a few bags of gifts, honey and eggs - basically a bribe - to the rector. The rector probably knows that he is sending Homa to a deadly job, but honey and eggs are more important to him. Homa is threatened into a choice between doing a deadly job or being lashed into disability - all because of the rich man's gifts.
Next, there is a scene where images of horses eating and drinking from a trough are interleaved with images of the rich man's servants having a dinner. The filmmakers here want to show that these servants are no different to horses for the rich man - both do the same job and get the same treatment.
Later, the rich man does not care whether his daughter was possessed by a witch or not. It's irrelevant for him 'cause what would that change? She might have tortured his servants and is about to torture a college student - so what? It's his daughter and he will do everything for her. (After all, she is the only human here, others are like horses.) That's a usual rich man's mentality, you can see it in 21st century: some oligarch's son got drunk and killed 5 people in a car crash and that oligarch used all his power to clear his son by bribing or threatening judges and victim's relatives.
Finally, the most important phrase here is said by Homa near the end of the film: "the damned witch must have done a lot of sins because Demons protect her so heavily". Demons stand by one another and they all rise to help her as soon as she calls them. But has anyone tried to help Homa? During the film the rich man's servants all know what's gonna happen to him - and they all pretend that nuffin's happening. Homa died from fear, all they had to do was simply to encourage him. Like all good slaves, they hate their peers and are happy that their master sent someone else to die - usual USSR propaganda cliche.
So this is the main message of this film: in a world where common people cannot stand by one another, Demons will prosper.
The film starts with the depiction of a religious college - the rector knows perfectly well that his students doesn't really care 'bout studying 'n God 'n 'religion 'n other silly stuff. Students on their part do not care that the rector takes bribes from the local rich man. Everyone pretends it's al fine and proper - common picture that can be seen in 21st century colleges.
Later, the rich man delivers a few bags of gifts, honey and eggs - basically a bribe - to the rector. The rector probably knows that he is sending Homa to a deadly job, but honey and eggs are more important to him. Homa is threatened into a choice between doing a deadly job or being lashed into disability - all because of the rich man's gifts.
Next, there is a scene where images of horses eating and drinking from a trough are interleaved with images of the rich man's servants having a dinner. The filmmakers here want to show that these servants are no different to horses for the rich man - both do the same job and get the same treatment.
Later, the rich man does not care whether his daughter was possessed by a witch or not. It's irrelevant for him 'cause what would that change? She might have tortured his servants and is about to torture a college student - so what? It's his daughter and he will do everything for her. (After all, she is the only human here, others are like horses.) That's a usual rich man's mentality, you can see it in 21st century: some oligarch's son got drunk and killed 5 people in a car crash and that oligarch used all his power to clear his son by bribing or threatening judges and victim's relatives.
Finally, the most important phrase here is said by Homa near the end of the film: "the damned witch must have done a lot of sins because Demons protect her so heavily". Demons stand by one another and they all rise to help her as soon as she calls them. But has anyone tried to help Homa? During the film the rich man's servants all know what's gonna happen to him - and they all pretend that nuffin's happening. Homa died from fear, all they had to do was simply to encourage him. Like all good slaves, they hate their peers and are happy that their master sent someone else to die - usual USSR propaganda cliche.
So this is the main message of this film: in a world where common people cannot stand by one another, Demons will prosper.