Inspired by found footage horror and the true crime craze, Christopher Colley's TikTok series follows teenagers James and Luca as they delve into the eerie mysteries of their suburb.

This clip opens with James regaling his friends with tales of the famous witch Baba Yaga. Mirroring the trends of vertical video, his narration is energetic, conversational and laced with a hint of irony. The unsteady camera, which mimics a smartphone recording, roves around the room to expose youthful emotions: playfulness, scepticism and the growing unease of Luca, who nurses a quiet crush.

Drawing on Slavic mythology, The Curse of Baba Yaga explores themes of migration, identity and inherited storytelling traditions. Colley's slick contemporary style, which trains a sensitive eye on tech-savvy Gen Z youth, offers a fresh take on how folklore adapts and survives in new places.