The Vigil (Jewish Horror Movie)

[crutzulee]

I saw this yesterday on the last day of tiff and enjoyed it.

For the most part it is a very creepy bump in the night kind of movie with well placed jump scares..

I don't see a lot of films in the theater but the guy next to me lost his $hit a couple of times. For me, I think the experience might have been better in my setup at home. I watch many movies alone late at night after everyone goes to sleep. Horror movies in ATMOS just seem more creepy when watched this way. Also, although the credits indicate that the movie was shot digitally, the projected image at the Scotiabank theater was muddy.. this is a dark movie in which you are meant to squint into the darkness and wonder what exactly you are seeing.. all the more to shock you with the jump.. I'm not sure why, but something tells me this movie can and will look better if i get a chance to see it at home..

Where this movie really shines for me, and what sets it apart, is it's setup. I recently watched a documentary about the struggles people who leave the hassidic community face. The opening scene of the movie shows a support group meeting for people in this position and it felt as though the scene could have been ripped straight out of the documentary. That kind of authenticity really had me vested with the main character from the get go.

i grew up in a catholic household in which the machinations of THE EXORCIST existed in the real world. That movie scared the crap out of me as it was intended to for Catholic kids.

I've lived much of my life since then in the Jewish community, I can't crawl back into my childhood and believe in childish things but a movie like this with its authentic premise, goes a long way towards suspending disbelief. My brother in law is orthodox. Ive stayed in his home in a very orthodox community. This movie gets it all right in every aspect.