Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
A man providing overnight watch to a deceased member of his former Orthodox Jewish community finds himself opposite a malevolent entity.
The Vigil earns genuine distinction for its novelty — drawing on Jewish folklore, the concept of the mazzik, and Orthodox community trauma in a horror context is genuinely rare and well-realized. The Yiddish-inflected atmosphere and setting are unlike almost anything in mainstream horror. Acting is competent with Dave Davis carrying the film solidly. Cinematography uses the cramped, dimly lit apartment effectively but doesn't transcend its limitations. The plot, while atmospheric, is thin and repetitive in its middle section. The ending deflates the tension built up, feeling rushed and insufficiently resolved, which is a common complaint among viewers.