The Golem (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The Golem is a 2019 horror film directed by Doron Paz and Yoav Paz, starring Konstantin Anikienko as Golem, Ishai Golan and Hani Furstenberg. It runs 1 hour 35 minutes and earned $538,176 worldwide. Critics gave it 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and 63 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.5/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 35m (95 min)
- Genre
- Horror
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Epic Pictures Group
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Golem About?
The premise of The Golem without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
During a time of widespread plague, a woman seeks to protect her Jewish community by invoking ancient magic. Her attempt to summon a powerful guardian inadvertently creates a fearsome golem, a monstrous being that proves to be a grave threat. As the golem grows out of control, it endangers the very people she tried to save, forcing her to confront the consequences of her actions and find a way to stop it.
The Golem Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- legend
- golem
- ritual
- child
- evil
- monster
- folklore
- psychotronic film
- prayer
- kabbalah
- rabbi
- village
+38 more Show fewer
- synagogue
- lithuania
- healer
- black plague
- magic
- 17th century
- doll
- pregnancy
- hebrew
- massacre
- hanging
- wedding
- year 1673
- early modern period
- polish lithuanian commonwealth
- europe
- bath
- water
- river
- plague doctor
- talmud
- sister
- miscarriage
- fire
- fiddle
- violin
- footprints
- contraceptive
- husband wife relationship
- lynching
- barn
- throat slashed
- hidden corpse
- daughter
- death of daughter
- scroll
- jewish mysticism
- star of david
The Golem Cast & Characters
Konstantin Anikienko leads the cast as Golem, with Ishai Golan as Benjamin and Hani Furstenberg as Hanna. Directed by Doron Paz and Yoav Paz; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Konstantin Anikienko as Golem
- Ishai Golan as Benjamin
-
Hani Furstenberg as Hanna - Aleksey Tritenko as Vladimir
Also Starring in The Golem
· 6 more- Brynie Furstenberg Perla
- Ekaterina Voronina Young Perla
- Adi Kvetner Jacob
- Alex Tritenko
- Lenny Ravich
- Olga Safronova
More from Doron Paz and Yoav Paz
More films directed by Doron Paz and Yoav Paz, best-rated first: JeruZalem, Plan A, The Ring and Phobidilia.
The Golem Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Golem 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and 63 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 68/100, strongest in art & craft (80) and weakest in rewatch factor (50).
The Golem Echo Score Breakdown
In sum, The Golem stands out for its atmospheric imagery and inventive approach yet falters in sustaining emotional engagement. The cinematography and production design generate a vivid, brooding world that many found memorable, while the score and visual style reinforce its unsettling tone. However, the pacing often drags before the creature’s arrival and some performances do not consistently evoke empathy. Consequently, the film feels distinctive but only partially cohesive in its narrative and emotional impact.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 80
In terms of art and craft, The Golem excels in its visual composition and technical execution. The film’s direction embraces a measured pacing of shots that builds atmosphere, while the cinematography bathes scenes in a muted color palette. Production design and special effects create a tangible sense of period and dread. Overall, its visual craftsmanship is a defining strength.
- Character & Emotion 55
When it comes to character and emotion, The Golem presents a mix of compelling and underdeveloped portrayals. The lead performance conveys genuine maternal conflict and the relationship between creator and creature feels nuanced. However, some supporting roles lack the emotional resonance needed to foster empathy and the pacing delays hinder character investment. The net effect is a varied emotional engagement.
- Story & Flow 65
In terms of story and flow, the film offers an original reimagining of a classic folklore but struggles with pacing and suspense. The narrative’s intellectual sincerity and thematic ambition are evident in its feminist subtext and mythological homage. Yet the extended build-up before the creature’s arrival and occasional tonal shifts reduce engagement. The overall plot coherence is uneven.
- Sensory Experience 80
When considering the sensory experience, The Golem delivers a richly atmospheric soundscape and striking visual style. The soundtrack and sound design create persistent unease, while the muted yet detailed cinematography reinforces the film’s brooding mood. Production elements cohere to evoke dread, and special effects effectively support the mythic creature’s presence. The film’s sensory cohesion is a prominent asset.
- Rewatch Factor 50
As a rewatch experience, The Golem offers limited replay value despite its memorable visuals. While the film’s atmospheric tension and mythological twist may reward a second viewing for its thematic nuance, uneven pacing and modest character engagement reduce its lasting appeal. Consequently, viewers may find it striking on first watch but less compelling to revisit repeatedly.
-
IMDb 5.5 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 89% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 44%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 63 Metascore
User score 6.6
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 58% User score
See on TMDB
The Golem Plot Summary
What happens in The Golem from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Horrovits, the shtetl’s rabbi, advises his son Benjamin to divorce his wife Hanna because seven years have passed since the death of their son, and she has not conceived since then. Dismissing his father’s advice, Benjamin secretly smuggles a Torah for Hanna and warns her that it is a Kaballah; many men have gone mad after reading its texts. The couple makes love, with Hanna applying a contraception potion.
Full summary
The whole story of The Golem, scene by scene
The Golem Box Office
The Golem grossed $538,176 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$538.2K
- International
- $538.2K
The Golem Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer THE GOLEM - A Dread Original - Official Trailer
How Well Do You Know The Golem?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who serves as the shtetl's rabbi in the film?
The Golem Also Known As
16 alternative titles, including “Ha'Golem” and “더 골렘”.
- Also known as
-
- Ha'Golem
- 더 골렘
- Golem La Leyenda
- 골렘 위치 스토리
- Голем: Начало
- הגולם
- Golem - Wiedergeburt
- Голем: Початок
- A Lenda de Golem
- Chúa Quỷ
- A Lenda do Golem
- Голем: Началото
+4 more Show fewer
- Golem: La leyenda
- A Gólem
- 傀儡
- 恐怖泥人
Seen The Golem?
Movies Like The Golem
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Golem, The Golem and The Golem and the Dancing Girl.
The Golem FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Golem, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Golem?
The Golem runs 1 hour 35 minutes (95 minutes).
When was The Golem released?
The Golem was released on February 1, 2019.
Who directed The Golem?
The Golem was directed by Doron Paz and Yoav Paz.
More films by Doron Paz Who is in the cast of The Golem?
The Golem stars Konstantin Anikienko as Golem, Ishai Golan as Benjamin and Hani Furstenberg as Hanna, among 10 credited actors.
How much did The Golem make at the box office?
The Golem grossed $538,176 worldwide.
How is The Golem rated?
The Golem has 5.5/10 on IMDb, 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, 63 on Metacritic and 58% on TMDB.
Does The Golem have a post-credit scene?
No. The Golem has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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