The Vigil - O Despertar do Mal

Um filme clássico de terror com uma casa assombrada, fantasmas e um demónio, em que o protagonista - um jovem atormentado por traumas do passado e falta de finanças - aceita um emprego único como guardião de um membro morto da comunidade judaica (que faz parte da tradição), não fazendo ideia do mal que tentará saltar sobre ele do cadáver. Após uma exposição sólida, o filme desliza muito rapidamente para uma rotina de horror e uma série de susto padrão que utiliza os elementos judeus apenas esporádica e superficialmente, colando-se em vez disso a clichés baratos. A tensão é construída de forma bastante densa (embora apenas dentro de cenas individuais), muitas partes são devidamente arrepiantes, e a câmara kosher trabalha bem com a escuridão, mas isto mal é suficiente para um filme ligeiramente acima da média, surpreendentemente genérico em comparação com o seu tema promissor e com um final demasiado apressado. (12/10/2019)

Well, to say it euphemistically, I didn’t have fun. There were actually moments when I was pretty bored, I can’t say The Vigil is a fountain of entertainment. However, I think two stars would be too harsh, the film is well made and it keeps an almost constant atmosphere, but the script would need something to liven up that single room boredom. The ending, on the other hand, it was almost funny how fast it blows over. (29/11/2020)

A fairly promising and creatively innovative piece, but in the end, it is a dull borefest where almost nothing works. The film draws on Jewish traditions, where the main character is asked to be a "Shomer" – that is, to take a night watch in a house and guard the deceased from the Jewish community. It is quite an original idea, but unfortunately it was not exploited at all. The film is minimalist, set in a house with a minimum of characters, but the director avoids any scares like the plague, there are only two jump scares and unfortunately neither of them worked. The demon doesn't even properly appear, the atmosphere is more uninspiring than dense, and unfortunately the main character is also uninteresting. I was bored and I do not recommend it. Story***, Action>No, Humor>No, Violence>No, Entertainment**, Music**, Visuals**, Atmosphere***, Tension**. 4/10. (28/11/2020)

Unfortunately, the promise of a horror film from an unglamorous Jewish environment very quickly turns out to be an unduly straightforward and formulaic screenplay devoid of original ideas and, most importantly, any sort of atmosphere. It tries to compensate for that with awfully tawdry jump-scares lifted from mainstream horror movies, where loud sound effects announce something leaping out of the shadows. It never gives the audience the feeling that the main character is in any real danger in any way. Keith Thomas chose the path of specific well-trodden tropes to move the story along, and the movie’s finale therefore was already completely doomed to fizzle out by his hand. This movie is a dull, simple and unsatisfying watch. [Sitges 2019] (11/10/2019)

I had high hopes that The Vigil would be a solid horror film rooted in Jewish traditions, myths, and superstitions. Unfortunately, it ended up being just another uninspired demonic ghost story that squanders its potential. The opening is promising — the first third does a great job of drawing you in and building up anticipation. But once the real action begins, the film falters and falls into mediocrity. While there are moments where the tension and atmosphere are well-crafted, they almost always dissipate too quickly. Not once did it truly grip me or surprise me with something unexpected. Instead, it’s filled with all the clichés you’d expect from this type of horror: predictable plot devices, dull jump scares, and the protagonist’s battle with personal trauma. There’s no creative flair or unique scares to be found. It could have been worse, sure, but it’s far from being impressive. At best, it’s just average, but I can’t bring myself to give it a third star because of the wasted potential for a truly gripping, atmospheric horror featuring a Jewish demon. (11/10/2019)