The Vigil (2021): Cast, Ratings & Plot
The Vigil is a 2021 mystery thriller directed by Keith Thomas, starring Menashe Lustig as Reb Shulem, Ronald Cohen and Dun Laskey. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes. Critics gave it 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 69 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 30m (90 min)
- Director
- Keith Thomas
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- IFC Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Vigil About?
The premise of The Vigil without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In Brooklyn’s Hasidic Borough Park, a man named Yakov undertakes the traditional role of shomer, keeping vigil over a deceased member of the community. While watching over the body, he finds himself confronting unsettling and terrifying events within the old, dilapidated house where the deceased once lived. As the night progresses, Yakov uncovers a sinister presence and must confront the escalating horrors surrounding him.
The Vigil Themes & Keywords
· 39 tags- community
- jew
- new york city
- death
- night
- old woman
- widow
- hallucination
- hasidic
- occult
- supernatural power
- supernatural horror
+27 more Show fewer
- orthodox jew
- crisis of faith
- questioning one's faith
- ghost
- haunting
- religious horror
- religion
- two word title
- death of husband
- grindhouse film
- man
- demon
- brooklyn new york city
- funerary
- hasidism
- judaism
- holocaust survivor
- reference to the holocaust
- holocaust
- buchenwald
- anti semitism
- nazi
- death of brother
- ptsd post traumatic stress disorder
- psychiatric medication
- medication
- jewish mythology
The Vigil Cast & Characters
Menashe Lustig leads the cast as Reb Shulem, with Ronald Cohen as Mr. Rubin Litvak and Dun Laskey as Young Rubin Litvak. Directed by Keith Thomas; 14 actors are credited in all.
- Director Keith Thomas
- Menashe Lustig as Reb Shulem
- Ronald Cohen as Mr. Rubin Litvak
- Dun Laskey as Young Rubin Litvak
-
Lynn Cohen as Mrs. Litvak
Also Starring in The Vigil
· 10 more- Malky Goldman Sarah
- Fred Melamed Dr. Marvin Kohlberg
- Dave Randolph-Mayhem Davis
- Spencer Zender Eric
- Moshe Lobel Lazer
- Nati Rabinowitz Lane
- Efraim Miller Hersch
- Lea Kalisch Adinah
- Les Gardonyi Demon
- Hershy Fishman
More from Keith Thomas
More films directed by Keith Thomas, best-rated first: Firestarter, Pickman’s Model and Arkane.
The Vigil Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Vigil 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 69 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 85/100, strongest in art & craft (90) and weakest in story & flow (70).
The Vigil Echo Score Breakdown
The Vigil excels in its atmospheric execution and thoughtful craftsmanship, though it occasionally falters in its narrative resolution. Positive commentary highlights the immersive tone driven by confident direction, deliberate cinematography, and a compelling cultural perspective. Criticisms focus on repetitive horror mechanisms and an underwhelming ending that diminishes some of the film's momentum. Across user and critic feedback, the film's strengths in setting and emotional resonance are noted alongside narrative pacing concerns. Ultimately, The Vigil leaves a strong sensory impression even as its story structure reveals modest limitations.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 90
In terms of Art & Craft, The Vigil demonstrates consistent visual precision and resourceful design. Critics and users alike note the adept use of low-light cinematography, measured framing, and immersive production elements that transform mundane environments into unsettling spaces. Editing choices enhance the persistent tension without becoming jarring. Overall, the film's technical execution solidly supports its atmospheric ambitions.
- Character & Emotion 85
In terms of character and emotion, the film benefits from committed performances that ground its supernatural premise. Actors deliver nuanced portrayals, capturing both introspective fear and cultural specificity. Emotional resonance is achieved through subtle interactions and well-defined motivations, fostering connection despite limited backstory depth. Collectively, the cast's authenticity sustains viewer engagement throughout the narrative.
- Story & Flow 70
When it comes to story and flow, The Vigil offers an intriguing premise rooted in cultural lore yet exhibits uneven pacing. Early sequences build suspense with deliberate understatement and thematic depth. However, repetitive scare mechanics and an uninspired conclusion undercut narrative momentum. While original elements and occasional insight maintain engagement, structural inconsistencies prevent the plot from fully satisfying its initial promise.
- Sensory Experience 90
In terms of sensory experience, the film excels in crafting an immersive environment through sound and visual design. The moody score, carefully calibrated sound effects, and restrained color palette amplify tension and claustrophobia. Visual cohesion between production design and cinematography sustains atmosphere across scenes. Consequently, sensory elements consistently reinforce the film's unsettling tone and thematic intent.
- Rewatch Factor 80
When assessing rewatch factor, The Vigil presents compelling atmosphere and thematic nuance that invite subsequent viewings. The cultural focus and layered soundscape reveal additional details on repeat, though narrative clichés and a predictable ending may diminish long-term appeal for some. Nonetheless, the film's strong mood and psychological underpinnings sustain interest beyond a first viewing.
-
IMDb 5.8 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 90% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 55%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 69 Metascore
User score 5.9
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 58% User score
See on TMDB -
Movie Insider 2.8 /5
See on Movie Insider
The Vigil Plot Summary
What happens in The Vigil from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film begins with a harrowing scene: an unidentified boy is coerced by a man in a black Nazi uniform to shoot a young woman in a secluded forest, while a mysterious figure looms in the background. The narrative then shifts focus to Yakov Ronen, a former Jew grappling with a traumatic past and facing financial struggles without a job. Soon, he is approached by Reb Shulem, a member of his past Orthodox Jewish community, who seeks Ronen’s assistance to keep vigil over Rubin Litvak, a Holocaust survivor who has recently passed away. Shulem had previously hired a Shomer for this purpose, but that individual left in fear, leading Ronen to accept the job after negotiating for a higher fee.
Full summary
The whole story of The Vigil, scene by scene
The Vigil Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 teaser.
- Teaser The Vigil Teaser Trailer #1 (2021) | Movieclips Trailers
How Well Do You Know The Vigil?
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
What traumatic event does Yakov Ronen struggle to cope with?
The Vigil Also Known As
Also known as “Il Vigilante”.
- Also known as
-
- Il Vigilante
Seen The Vigil?
Movies Like The Vigil
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Village, Dybbuk and Viy.
The Vigil FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Vigil, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Vigil?
The Vigil runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).
When was The Vigil released?
The Vigil was released on February 26, 2021.
Who directed The Vigil?
The Vigil was directed by Keith Thomas.
More films by Keith Thomas Who is in the cast of The Vigil?
The Vigil stars Menashe Lustig as Reb Shulem, Ronald Cohen as Mr. Rubin Litvak and Dun Laskey as Young Rubin Litvak, among 14 credited actors.
How is The Vigil rated?
The Vigil has 5.8/10 on IMDb, 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, 69 on Metacritic and 58% on TMDB.
Does The Vigil have a post-credit scene?
No. The Vigil has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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