Vigil Soundtrack: The Vigil (2021) is an American supernatural horror film written and directed by Keith Thomas in his feature directorial debut. Note: this film is a different production from the unrelated BBC submarine-thriller TV series also titled “Vigil” (2021) — this guide covers the horror film’s score only.
The film follows Yakov (Dave Davis), a man who has recently left his Orthodox Jewish community and reluctantly agrees to sit overnight vigil (a “shomer”) over the body of a deceased member of that community, only to find himself confronted by a malevolent presence tied to the dead man’s past.
Quick Facts
| Title | The Vigil |
| Type | Feature Film (Supernatural Horror) |
| Director | Keith Thomas |
| Composer | Michael Yezerski |
| US Release | February 26, 2021 (Theaters & VOD) |
| Distributor | IFC Midnight |
| Production | Boulderlight Films |
| Starring | Dave Davis, Menashe Lustig, Malky Goldman, Fred Melamed, Lynn Cohen |
| Soundtrack Label | Lakeshore Records (13 tracks, 48 minutes) |
Score & Composer
The score for The Vigil was composed by Australian composer Michael Yezerski, known for his work on The Waiting City and The Black Balloon (for which he won an APRA Award and a Screen Music Award). Discussing the score with director Keith Thomas, Yezerski deliberately avoided leaning on klezmer, the music most commonly associated with Judaism, instead building a score around the idea that “music is memory,” exploring the malevolence of both personal and cultural memory that haunts the film’s protagonist.
Lakeshore Records released the official soundtrack album digitally on February 26, 2021, the same day the film opened in theaters and on VOD.
Every Song (Score Tracklist)
Here is the complete tracklist from The Vigil (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), composed by Michael Yezerski and released by Lakeshore Records:
| # | Track Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Tefillin |
| 2 | The Ghost, Pt. 1 |
| 3 | The Ghost, Pt. 2 |
| 4 | Past |
| 5 | Lair |
| 6 | Broken by Memories |
| 7 | Video Games |
| 8 | Behind You |
| 9 | Face to Face |
| 10 | Begin The Vigil |
| 11 | Ner |
| 12 | Echo |
| 13 | Sunlight |
Where to Stream
The Vigil is available to rent or buy on major VOD platforms including Prime Video and Apple TV. Michael Yezerski’s soundtrack album can be streamed on Apple Music and Spotify, or purchased digitally through Amazon Music and Bandcamp.
Cast
- Dave Davis as Yakov
- Menashe Lustig as Reb Shulem
- Malky Goldman as Sarah
- Fred Melamed as Rabbi Shulem
- Lynn Cohen as Mrs. Litvak
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the music for The Vigil (2021)?
Australian composer Michael Yezerski scored The Vigil. He deliberately avoided klezmer influences, building the score instead around the theme of memory and its lingering trauma.
Is The Vigil the same as the BBC series Vigil?
No. The Vigil (2021) is an American supernatural horror film directed by Keith Thomas. It shares its title with, but is otherwise unrelated to, the BBC submarine-set thriller series Vigil, which also premiered in 2021 and has its own separate score by the duo Afterhere.
Where can I listen to The Vigil soundtrack?
The official 13-track soundtrack album, released by Lakeshore Records on February 26, 2021, is available on Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music.
What is The Vigil about?
The film follows Yakov, a man who has recently left his Orthodox Jewish community, as he reluctantly agrees to keep overnight watch over the body of a deceased community member and is confronted by a malevolent supernatural presence tied to the dead man’s past.
Where can I watch The Vigil?
The Vigil is available to rent or purchase digitally through Prime Video, Apple TV, and other major VOD platforms.
Related Reading
Looking for more horror scores? Visit our Movie Soundtrack hub, or browse what’s new on Apple TV+ and Prime Video.