“The Vigil” Cast & Director on Redefining Jewish Horror

The Vibe of the Tribe

The list of great Jewish-themed horror films is woefully short. But there’s a new front-runner in this niche category—a legit horror film that is religiously accurate, sprinkled with Yiddish and leave-the-lights-on-don’t-watch-alone scary. Meet “The Vigil.” Steeped in ancient Jewish lore and demonology, writer and director Keith Thomas’s debut feature film tells the story of a young man named Yakov (Dave Davis of “The Walking Dead” and “Logan”) who is persuaded to watch over the body of a deceased member of his former Orthodox community. As his night unfolds, Yakov finds himself trapped with a malevolent entity. Thomas, Davis and co-star and associate producer Malky Goldman (“Unorthodox”) join an extremely hyped Miriam and Dan to discuss cinematic inspiration, the deeply authentic representation of ultra-Orthodox life and characters, how trauma and pain are reflected in the film and how “The Vigil” is charting new, very scary territory in Jewish cinema. Please note: This episode contains adult language. Find out how to watch “The Vigil” here: https://www.thevigil.movie/watch-at-home Edited by Jesse Ulrich, with music by Ryan J. Sullivan. Special thanks to IFC Films and Tamar Simon from Mean Streets Management.