The Offering, directed by Oliver Park and released on January 13th, 2023, is a horror thriller film that introduces a character named Abyzou, an ancient demon. The story revolves around Arthur and Claire, who visit Arthur’s father in a Hasidic Jewish community. When Arthur unknowingly makes a pact with a demon, it takes many lives in a short amount of time and threatens to take the soul of a young child. The Offering is a unique horror film due to its background in Jewish mythology. Can it live up to expectations and be as terrifying as it promises to be?
Storyline
Arthur and Claire visit Saul, Arthur’s father, who lives in a Hasidic Jewish community. Saul initially disapproved of Art’s marriage to Claire because she is not part of the faith. However, Saul has opened his heart to Claire, who is pregnant with his grandchild. Art seems anxious since arriving at Saul’s house, and he is constantly pressured by his colleague to get Saul’s signature on a loan that would use his house as collateral.
Saul owns a funeral home, which is a Jewish tradition, and he is constantly busy with preparations for Yosille’s wake, one of his colleagues who committed suicide. When Art tries to remove the knife from Yosille’s chest, he hears a buzzing sound and loses power when he touches a pendant around Yosille’s neck. Saul notices an ancient inscription on the knife handle and contacts his friend Charim, who explains that the knife is used for demon summoning rituals that have not been practiced in a long time.
One night, Claire goes to the bathroom and has a nightmare where Yosille attacks her in the dark, trying to remove her unborn child from her womb. But it turns out to be just a nightmare. Art shares his intentions with his father, but he does not want to discuss business with him. While Art is alone in Saul’s office, a demon takes Saul’s life, leaving Art shocked when he finds his father dead. Heimish, Saul’s assistant, provides Art with a pawn ticket that Saul had signed, which turns out to be the cause of his death.
Demonic Threat
Art and the community are left grieving after Saul’s funeral. Claire sees a little girl running around in the house and hiding behind a cloth covering the mirror. She turns out to be Sarah, the missing girl who was found dead a few days later. Claire begins to feel uneasy since she hears whispers from Sarah’s room. However, whenever Art is approached about the situation, he remains silent and expressionless.
As Art tries to continue his father’s business, he faces obstacles regarding Yosille’s funeral. He must find Yosille’s family or obtain permission from the police for the burial process. Art visits Yosille’s house and finds a similar inscription on a book that he saw in his dream. He also discovers a videotape that recorded a ritual Yosille conducted, and a young girl, Sarah, became a sacrifice for the summoning of Abyzou, an ancient demon.
Claire is visited by an old woman named Aida, who claims to be Yosille’s wife. Aida asks to be taken to the morgue to view Yosille’s body. Initially hesitant and attempting to contact Art, Claire reluctantly takes Aida to the morgue. She is surprised to see Yosille’s body and realizes that she had seen him in her dreams. However, Aida reveals herself to be Abyzou, and she tries to burn Claire alive until Art arrives and saves her.
Conclusion:
The Offering is a horror thriller that delves deep into Jewish mythology about demons and ancient rituals. The film provides audiences with a fresh perspective on the horror genre, not only through its unique background but also through its storyline, which focuses on a father-son relationship, grief, and revenge. While The Offering may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it is definitely worth watching for horror enthusiasts and those interested in exploring new territories in the genre.
