The Vigil Review

Writer/director Keith Thomas makes his feature debut with The Vigil, a horror film with an undemanding and original premise that takes Jewish practices and twists them into a night of dark and disturbing experiences. Although there are points where the horror elements feel no different than the standard jump scares that have become the norm of the genre, the overall result is an entertaining narrative that never tries to overcomplicate things, despite including a loose romantic subplot that doesn't feel necessary. Showcasing frightening imagery and disturbing sound design that exaggerates floors creaking and bones cracking to add remarkable depth to each element, The Vigil becomes a fun horror film that never overstays its welcome.

A film deeply rooted in Jewish culture and mysticism, The Vigil follows Yakov, an unemployed Jewish man who is still trying to find his place in a city and social environment that he still doesn’t fully grasp. When his approach late at night and offered to be a last-minute Shomer, a person who provides overnight watch for a deceased member of the Jewish community, to a man who many considered an odd recluse, he decides to accept the job. Although the night begins normal, the mounting level of suspicious events pushes the situation quickly into the realms of the paranormal, as Yakov soon finds himself opposite to a malevolent entity.

Fortified with wonderful cinematography that immediately creates a haunting atmosphere and tone, Thomas finds consistent success in letting the subtle and unnerving aspects of his screenplay come to life naturally. This creates an overall rewarding experience that proves effective while still driving the story forward. Totaling a running-time that’s just over feature-length, the tightly structured story rarely swerves in a jarring or unfitting direction. But the film wouldn’t be as effective if it wasn’t for the hesitant and empathetic performance by lead Dave Davis, who instills a likable yet timid personality and frail nerves to his character.

The Vigil does have moments that slows the pace down to communicate exposition about a character or pace. This is where the movie is at it’s weakest, creating leisured texting scenes that can sometimes result in uneventful outcomes. It’s a storytelling and dialogue method that Thomas uses throughout his script that never finds a fitting payoff.

Overall, Keith Thomas’s feature debut is a stellar horror film that focuses on a community and practices that many films from the genre surprisingly haven’t. Although it’s far from a flawless execution, Thomas shows an extremely confident and creative knowledge of filmmaking that makes him a writer/director to keep an eye on.

Keith Thomas’s creative yet simple premise and supernatural atmosphere help make his feature debut The Vigil an entertaining horror film.

Produced By: BoulderLight Pictures
Runtime: 88 minutes
Rating: NR