By MICHAEL GINGOLD
After world-premiering at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival and U.S.-premiering at SXSW earlier this year, it’s heading for release next February.
IFC Midnight has announced its acquisition of U.S. rights to THE VIGIL, the feature writing/directing debut of Keith Thomas, with release scheduled for February 26, 2021. Produced by Raphael Margules and J.D. Lifshitz of BoulderLight Pictures along with Adam Margules, the movie stars Dave Davis, Malky Goldman, Menashe Lustig, Fred Melamed and Lynn Cohen. The synopsis: “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 Hasidic Borough Park neighborhood. Low on funds and having recently left his insular religious community, Yakov 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 recently departed’s dilapidated house to sit the vigil, Yakov begins to realize that something is very, very wrong.”
“THE VIGIL is a real passion project,” Thomas says. “Not only for me but our whole team, and I’m excited to see how the themes of the film resonate with American audiences. I’m also honored to collaborate with IFC on this release. They have a distinguished record of putting out thought-provoking genre films and their passion for THE VIGIL is palpable.”
