'The Vigil' Review

 

"The Vigil" is a supernatural thriller about a former Hasidic Jew whose faith and mental stability was shaken following a traumatic event. Desperate for money, he accepts the job from an old friend to perform a ritual known in Judaism as 'The Vigil', where he must watch over a body to guide their soul through the afterlife overnight. Once he begins his work, he slowly begins to unravel as a demonic entity is lurking inside the house and begins to feed on his pain, both physical and mental.

This one was quite the little hidden gem! I only ever heard of the film thanks to my local cinema (shout out to the Promenade Cinema) carrying more indie films to fill out the rather anemic roster. The film was released sometime last year and was a critical hit and I can understand why. The film may use the old trope of a demonic entity haunting someone in an old dark house, but makes it fresh again by utilizing the culture of the Jewish faith and plays out as more a psychological struggle of a man whose past has caused him so much pain. 

It's a literal fighting your own demons scenario and it's executed well. The film's visuals are the highlight as with most horror/thriller with deep oranges and dark shadows lurking everywhere. Throughout the runtime you start to notice less and less light creeping in as if the protagonist's pain and fears are boxing him in and the final confrontation involving a single candle really stands out as a result making the imagery and subtext clearer. 

If you're looking for something bombastic and aggressive a la "The Exorcist" or it's many retreads, this isn't really that kind of film. Sadly, due to US distribution belonging to horror staple Blumhouse "The Vigil" will have a sort of expectation but "Insidious" this is not. This is a subtle slow burn with strong themes of mental health, redemption, and overcoming our fears and mistakes. It just happens to use a fear-eating demon to bring those themes to life. 

"The Vigil" is not for everyone, but it's a great watch for fans of more classic horror that's tense, thought-provoking, and emotional. All this in a little PG-13 horror flick. Who would have thought?

A+