by Shane Conto
What kind of horror hits your fancy? Is it a good ole 80’s style slasher flick with an unstoppable murderer? Is it a creature feature that will keep you up because of a nightmarish being that will haunt you? Is it the everyday horror of a situation that hits way too close to home? For me it certainly has to be the supernatural that haunts us and makes us question what’s possible. Nothing scares me more than an unexplainable being that should not exist… but it does anyway. What can make your skin crawl even more? Add some serious religious subtext and this supernatural being hits even closer to home. Why is that? When faith comes into play, the impossible becomes possible. The good… and the bad. IFC Midnight delivers a new religious horror film in this deeply Jewish story, The Vigil.
But to appreciate this film, context would be helpful. What comes bumping in the night in this atmospheric horror film? The Dybbuk.
This crooked faced being haunts the vigil of a deceased old man hoping to catch his next reluctant ride. A young man who once belonged to this Hasidic community acts as a shimmer for this man overnight, watching over his corpse. The film explains this with some detailed text to set the stage. You know things will be creepy whenever the tone of your expositional text is unnerving. You know from the jump how creepy this ride will be. Over the course of this modest 89-minute runtime, writer-director Keith Thomas crafts an eerie and affecting experience in this claustrophobic film. Once the call to action is initiated, the audience rarely leaves the home of this old man. But that is fine because there is plenty of atmosphere, dark corners, and unwelcoming rooms. The themes of this film make it stand out from a story perspective. What makes a horror film even scarier? When the haunting elements connect directly to the trauma of our characters in an empathetic way. This Dybbuk thrives on the trauma of both our protagonist and the deceased in a way that provides cathartic payoffs for both. I like my horror when it can make me feel more than fear. This battle of faith and one’s own trauma feels deeper than most films of the genre and the film certainly benefits.
But what else makes this film so unnerving and affecting?
Thomas’ top-notch directorial debut does plenty for it. What Thomas learns from other great horror directors like Mike Flanagan is that what does not happen can be just as terrifying as what does. Deep focus, one of the best tools of horror, allows the audience to fear the presence of something nefarious in the background when our character(s) suspect nothing. One scene with a covered corpse in the background builds more tension on scene than most mainstream horror films do in their complete runtime. Thomas teases and teases. When the frights actually come, they are so much more effective. The film utilizes a running trope of this Dybbuk mimicking others on phone or video which makes the audience question every conversation that occurs. You know you have succeeded when you affect an audience in such a way. One glaring effect that takes from the atmosphere is the use of obnoxious sound design when scares occur. Why does every film feel the need to deliver cheap jump scares based off of sound? This film was so well crafted, so why soil those moments with such cheap scares? The framing and lighting in this film capture the inspired production design to maximize this single place that seems otherwise ordinary. The music helps build an atmosphere that turns the knife and crackles with tension and suspense.
What is the final bow on this impressive feature debut?
The performances. Dave Davis is subtle and relatable in his portrayal of this questioning young man. Why do we care so much about his complicated past with this Hasidic community? Davis makes us care with each of his emotive choices. He is vulnerable and shaken in the horror moments. Our mirror neurons will fire in the best ways when we believe the fear. Davis not only delivers that fear but also his sadness, grief, and anger for his past. But can this film avoid the timeless horror trope of the creepy old woman? Lynn Cohen delivers a believable and authentic performance that balances between suspicious and motherly. One little shoutout goes to Menashe Lustig who previously delivered a fantastic semi-autobiographical drama, Menashe, pops up at the beginning and the end of the film as our guide into this deeply religious world. If you have not seen Menashe, treat yourself.
Speaking of recommendations, would I recommend experiencing this new deeply religious horror film?
Can you tell from the rest of the article? Of course! The Vigil is equal parts eerie and emotionally affecting. The horror brings you to the table but the emotional reveals will carry you home. What a special film to spark the horror genre for 2021. Check out IFC Midnight’s new film, you will definitely not regret it.
Grade: A-