The son of a Hasidic funeral director returns home with his pregnant wife, seeking reconciliation with his estranged father. However, they remain unaware of the ancient evil that lurks within the family morgue. A film by Oliver Park.

Art (Nick Blood), a real estate agent, and his pregnant wife Claire (Emily Wiseman), a non-Jewish British food journalist, visit his father Saul (Allan Corduner) for the first time since their marriage. Their relationship has become estranged, and Saul has even denounced Claire, saying that she will never be a part of his family, no matter how much Art loves her. Saul still runs a Jewish funeral home in the childhood home where Art grew up.

However, Art harbors an ulterior motive that he has confided to no one, not even his wife. He has failed to sell any houses in nearly two years, and the bank is poised to seize his home, which he used as collateral for his business loan. He needs his father to mortgage the family home to save his failing business.

That night, Saul’s assistant, Heimish (Paul Kaye), arrives with the body of Yosille (Anton Trendafilov, a scholar who isolated himself from society after his wife’s death several months ago. Rumor has it that Yosille was trying to find a way to contact his late wife’s spirit. He is found dead with a knife in his cheek, suggesting suicide.

Heimish, wary of Art’s sudden visit, requests a private conversation with Saul. Unaware that the handle of the knife embedded in Yosille’s chest is carved with strange symbols and letters, Art removes the knife to prepare the body. He also discovers a blue jeweled amulet and attempts to sever the necklace, but a spooky sensation prompts him to accidentally drop it into the ground. Quickly sliding it into a sewer grate to conceal his mistake, Art fails to notice that the amulet has broken, releasing the demon that has been trapped within.

The OFFERING is a captivating horror film by a British filmmaker Oliver Park in his directorial debut. Inspired by Abyzou, a demon in Jewish folklore believed to be responsible for miscarriages and infant mortality. It drinks the milk and blood of pregnant women and kills babies. Abyzou is said to possess mythical powers that can cause terminal illness in women.

The overuse of jump scares detracts from the genuinely thrilling atmosphere of The OFFERING. Such a basic horror technique undermines the sophistication of the film.

Heimish, my favorite character, elevates every scene with his unexpected performances, despite his limited screen time. The ending is also impressive; for a horror cult film to succeed, the filmmaker must embrace the darkest path, where all hope is lost.

The OFFERING premiered at Fantastic Fest on 23 September 2022. The film was theatrically released in France on 11 January 2023 and in the United States on 13 January.