[Review] Raven Banner’s Blu-Ray Release of Jewish Horror Film The Vigil (2019)
Jewish horror films exist. I won’t deny that at all. Still, it hurts my heart that marginalized voices aren’t given more space within the genre as a whole. We have so many beautiful stories to tell and were I to sum up Keith Thomas’ The Vigil (2019) in one word, that’s exactly what I would call it: beautiful. I was honored to receive the physical release from Raven Banner and I have to say that the artfulness of the film is exquisitely echoed within the Blu-ray’s design.
Since childhood, I’ve been a die-hard fan of physical media and Raven Banner’s Vigil release takes the babka for one of the prettiest Blu-rays I own. It comes in a painted slipcover, which features the heavy hearted Yakov (the lead character of the film) amidst the film’s primary location: the Litvaks’ house. The attention to detail is astounding and the artwork looks as if it was ripped straight from a fairy tale, but my favorite part of this design is the brightly glowing candle in the backdrop of the scene. Those familiar with the culture understand the prevalence of light within our practices and I just can’t get over how thoughtful this design is, especially when considering the thoughtfulness within the film itself. Though also a stunning display, the Blu-ray case alone is more understated than the slipcover yet it compliments it perfectly with a bare-bones picture of Yakov standing over the body of Rubin Litvak.
The minimalist style also extends to the option menus with the iconic score playing in the background as you make your selection. Additionally, fans of the film will also appreciate the Blu-ray’s extras, which include TIFF and Zoom interviews with the director along with his equally jarring short Arkane (2017). What’s wonderful about the interviews is how much of a deeper look you get into the background of the film and its setting. Not only do you hear fascinating behind-the-scenes factoids about the casting and location, you also get some crucial insights from the director himself. I loved hearing Keith Thomas talk about his thought processes behind the film, his admiration of lead actor Dave Davis (whom he hired after admiring his part in 2017’s Bomb City), and how the cast consisted predominantly of people from Hasidic or Jewish communities in New York (where my family is also from). Thomas’ passion was infectious to see and it was such a treat to hear him talk about the extensive research he did prior to the film about Judaism and Hasidic culture. My favorite piece of trivia I gained from these interviews, though, was that the house featured in the film was an actual house rather than a set built solely for the film. In fact, Thomas explained that the majority of the building was left intact in order to provide a more authentic and lived-in atmosphere. Speaking of atmosphere, by the way, Thomas’ short film Arkane will undoubtedly be a hit for fans of The Vigil as well as it too features an otherworldly essence that will scare your gosh-dang socks off. Aside from these extra snazzy special features, the rest of the Blu-ray is more your traditional standard fare. You can check out The Vigil’s theatrical trailer, scope out some other Raven Banner releases (which include For the Sake of Vicious and Psycho Goreman!), revisit specific chapters/scenes, and add subtitles if you experience auditory processing issues or are hard of hearing like me.
As far as the content of the film itself goes, I’m embarrassed to admit that I hadn’t actually seen The Vigil before opening the package from Raven Banner. I’d known about the film for a long time—even prior to its official release—but it sounded so amazing that I was worried it couldn’t possibly live up to my supremely high expectations. Fortunately, I was wrong.
The film follows Yakov (played by the so-talented-it-hurts Dave Davis), who’s detached himself from the Hasidic community in the hopes of leading a more secular life. Yakov’s former rabbi (Menashe Lustig), however, tries to lure him back by offering him $400 to act as shomer (a Hebrew word indicating one who watches or guards) for a recently deceased community member. Strapped for cash and mourning a loss of his own, Yakov agrees. From there on out, the film descends into a heartbreaking tempest pulsing with drama, demons, and dreadful memories.
As a Jew no longer attached to a formal congregation myself, I appreciate the film’s complex portrayal of cultural identity. Having called myself a “bad Jew” in the past for my tattoos or agnosticism, I felt so validated seeing another Jew in flux, another Jew who’s a Jew because they feel like a Jew (even if they don’t feel like a Jew all the time). When Yakov listened to moody electronica while Googling flirting techniques on his phone (which is “strictly forbidden” during a vigil), I saw myself in him. The cinematography and sound design took my breath away as well, because they perfectly captured how simultaneously empty and hollow one can feel in the face of loss. In addition, the long, winding shots, atmospheric music, and eerie lights felt oddly like home and the haunting cover of the prayer song Ashrei (performed by Zusha) sent me over an emotional edge. If I had just one critique, I would wish for a plot that didn’t involve antisemitism and the Holocaust. While antisemitism is something Jews still deal with every single day of their lives, I would love to see more Jewish horror stories that rely more on other elements. That is only one part of our experience and violent reminders of antisemitism on-screen can be soul-crushing to endure. Aside from that, The Vigil was a remarkable film and a brilliant one to boot. I hope many more like it follow in its footsteps.