To coincide with the first night of Hanukkah, IFC Midnight has released a first look at their upcoming horror film The Vigil. In Jewish tradition, someone should with with the body of the recently deceased over night to prevent evil from taking over the body. This is called shomer. In many communities, this is either done by a family member or someone is hired to do it. The Vigil is written and directed by Keith Thomas and stars Dave Davis, Menashe Lustig, and Lynn Cohen. Remember demonology isn’t in the sole realm of Christian practice.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Steeped in ancient Jewish lore and demonology, THE VIGIL is supernatural horror film set over the course of a single evening in Brooklyn’s Hasidic Borough Park neighborhood. Low on funds and having recently left his insular religious community, Yakov (Dave Davis) reluctantly accepts an offer from his former rabbi and confidante (Menashe Lustig) 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 recently departed’s dilapidated house to sit the vigil, Yakov begins to realize that something is very, very wrong.
