“A sophisticated and scary film rich with Jewish tradition… [director Keith Thomas] makes our pulse a plaything, working toward a finale that is frightening, poignant, and maybe perfect. In short, don’t sleep on The Vigil.” – Pajiba

The Festival of Lights is here again, and you know what that means…Arkadin brings you some HORROR FOR HANUKKAH! Steeped in ancient Jewish lore and demonology, The Vigil is a supernatural horror film set over the course of a single evening in Brooklyn’s Borough Park. Low on funds and having recently left his insular religious community, Yakov (Dave Davis) reluctantly accepts an offer from his former rabbi and confidante to take on the responsibility of an overnight shomer — fulfilling the Jewish practice of watching over the body of a deceased community member. Shortly after arriving at the departed’s dilapidated house to sit in vigil, Yakov begins to realize that something is very, very wrong. This white-knuckle thriller marks the directorial debut of Keith Thomas, who holds a Master’s in religious education from Hebrew University College, infused this taut, tense chiller with his own research into Jewish esotericism. Forget the dreidel and latkes, The Vigil is all you need for Hanukkah this year.

Each month, Arkadin presents a selection of FOLK HORROR AROUND THE WORLD, creepy folktales from all corner of the globe to give you the Sunday scaries.

Arkadin does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. However, we encourage researching titles to determine if a screening may contain content that could be upsetting to you. Please feel free to contact us for guidance on specific films. Information about content can also be found on Common Sense Media, IMDB and DoesTheDogDie.com, as well as through general internet searches.