PopHorror Let's Get Scared
IFC Midnight recently announced that it is acquiring U.S. rights to writer-director Keith Thomas’ feature debut, The Vigil, a supernatural horror film with a Hasidic Jewish twist.
The film was written and directed by Keith Thomas. The cast stars Dave Davis (BOMB CITY), Malky Goldman (UNORTHODOX), Menashe Lustig (MENASHE), Fred Melamed (A SERIOUS MAN), and Lynn Cohen (MUNICH). Producing is Raphael Margules and J.D. Lifshitz (CONTRACTED, BECKY) of BoulderLight Pictures alongside Adam Margules (MENASHE). The filmmaking also includes editor Brett W. Bachman (MANDY, DANIEL ISN’T REAL), composer Michael Yezerski (THE DEVIL’S CANDY), and cinematographer Zach Kuperstein (THE EYES OF MY MOTHER, THE CLIMB).
Synopsis for The Vigil
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.
Director Keith Thomas commented, “The Vigil is a real passion project. 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.”
Arianna Bocco EVP of Acquisitions and Productions of IFC Films added, “We could not be more thrilled to partner with our longtime friends at Boulderlight on bringing this unique and truly scary horror film to US audiences. Keith Thomas is an incredible filmmaker, who with The Vigil, brings a fresh take on the supernatural genre with something we have never seen before.”
The deal for the film was negotiated by IFC Films’ Arianna Bocco EVP of Acquisitions and Productions with CAA Media Finance and BoulderLight Pictures on behalf of the filmmakers. The Vigil had its world premiere at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival in the coveted Midnight Madness section with a subsequent U.S. premiere at the 2020 SXSW Film Festival. IFC Midnight will release the film on February 26, 2021.
