Dark Harvest (2023) - Movie Review
What do you get when one of the most talented and visionary directors in the horror genre decides to tackle one of the best horror stories of the 2000’s?
A goddamn masterpiece, that’s what.
Let’s discuss…
Dark Harvest is a 2023 period drama / horror brought to us by the man, the myth, Director David Slade and writers Michael Gilio and Norman Partridge. David Spade is the king Midas of horror directors. He takes whatever basic concept he’s given and turns it into gold. He moved from directing MTV Music Video award winning music videos to award winning television, and then to genre films that break the mold.
What movies you might ask?
How about 30 Days of Night, Hard Candy, and Black Mirror: Bandersnatch?
Oh, did I peak your interest?
Good, go watch this movie—then come back.
The film focuses on Richie Shepherd, a greaser who lives in a sleepy little town in the middle of nowhere. It’s 1963 and Richie is suffering through the overbearing constraints of his town’s tradition. Mainly because his brother is a town hero after winning the town’s harvest Run. It’s a feat that he will never be able to live up to, because each family can only win the Run once. But that’s not what bothers Richie and pushes him to enter the event. No, he wants answers. His brother won and then disappeared, and Richie can’t shake the suspicion that there’s more to the town’s harvest tradition than simple fun and games. Little does he know how right he is. As blood runs through the streets and the town descends into madness, Richie races towards the goal. Will he find the answers he seeks or will he find himself inside the jaws of the town’s monster? Find out in tonight’s feature: Dark Harvest.
I’m going to be honest, I predicted the twist in this movie from 10 minutes into the narrative.
Here’s the kicker—It didn’t ruin the film.
This movie gives astute views and ignorant viewers two very different journeys. There’s surprises for both. For the ignorant, casual viewers—the standard twist is a mindblower and then what follows in the conclusion is a bonus mindblower. For astute viewers who predict the initial trickery, the conclusion and denouement are satisfying and a breath of fresh air.
This is a truly great film.
It’s a period piece that feels authentic. The music, the costuming, the cars and even the architecture of the town it’s shot in is framed to look as much like a film of the era as possible. One small touch that I love is how the lighting is even toned down to mimic vintage lightbulbs and streetlights.
The Direction and Cinematography is flawless. There are multiple shots from the film that tell the entire scene’s story in one artistic moment. I credit Slade for this as his vast experience in innovative music videos is an obvious boon for these stylish flourishes.
I’ve included shots below in the Spoilers
The teens in this film are played by some incredible unknowns and supported by legendary character actors.
Casey Likes is the star of this film and he carries it well. He channels the energy of a Rebel Without A Cause, James Dean, but gives a performance that’s extremely nuanced and fragile. I found myself actually rooting for him as opposed to most modern teen horrors where I’m rooting against the protagonist. I hope Likes gets pushed to the moon, because this kid’s got talent.
And while I loved Emyri Crutchfield in the film, the real backup stare is the viscous and conniving, Sheriff Ricks played by Luke Kirby. It’s wild that Kirby is most known for his award winning comedic turn in Amazon Prime’s Marvelous Mrs. Maisel . He plays a fantastic villain. He’s brutal, psychotic, but also smart. He’s a wily, unpredictable and seemingly one-step ahead even when he’s been left in the dust. Not since R. Lee Ermey’s turn as Sheriff Hoyt in 2003’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre has there been a character as charismatically evil.
Beyond these two standouts, we get the normally fantastic performances to be expected from genre vets like the living legend, Jeremy Davies, Ezra Buzzington, Elizabeth Reaser.
Then there’s the creature effects by Vincent Van Dyke Effects and MindWarpFX. What can I say other than the work they did with the budget they had was beyond expectations. Between the digital assets and the practical creature. It’s incredible. The detail and storytelling on the creature’s body itself is deep and involved. Time was spent attempting to honor the source material and it paid off. Every scene with Sawtooth Jack is an emotional experience.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a cult classic, a TRUE cult classic born.
This is it. This was supposed to be an exclusive to MGM+, which I didn’t know was a thing. I thought MGM did James Bond movies and bankruptcies, not streaming, but if this is the result of their efforts—I’d take a look at another service to add to the dozen I already have.
Check this movie out on Amazon Prime Video.
Seriously Check it out now.
Oh and Also.
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Predictable as it was, Jesus Christ did they stick that landing or what? Yes, the winner of the Run is killed and sacrificed—as a horror fan how could it be any other way. It’s a trope as old as the genre itself, just look at the classic 1948 tale The Lottery by the immutable Shirley Jackson. It was the story that made me want to be a writer. Yes, Clive Barker and Neil Gaiman stoked the flames of inspiration, but Shirley Jackson lit the match that started the blaze.
But as I said above, knowing this twist doesn’t ruin the movie—it merely changes the experience. I was able to focus on the ancillary things in these and notice details my viewing partner missed due to being entranced by the mystery.
The secondary twist made it all worth it.
First, the sad ending and death of Richie got a scream out of me. I was hoping he’d make it, that he’d burn it all down, but he fails inches from his goal.
BUUUUUT
Then that fucking after credits scene blazes onto the screen and Richie’s father finally redeems his worthless life by killing the farmer and setting his son, the new incarnation of Sawtooth Jack free to destroy the town and take vengeance for his sons.
Goddamn that’s a spicy meatball.
What I love about it, is that is actually frees up Sawtooth Jack to appear in other films, within new stories, because he’s free. He survived and he can grow.
What makes it all the better is the visual storytelling. Checkout some of my favorites below:
Just look at this teaser of Sawtooth Jack. Not only established the mystery, but gives an idea of the creature’s abilities all in a split second cut.
The nerds attempt to hide in this bunker, symbolizing a return to the womb—but you can’t go back to the womb and these poor souls found that out in brutal fashion.
The Crucifixion— aka my favorite shot in the film. Upon winning the Run, Richie is hosted up onto the crowd int he crucifix position, symbolizing his implied sacrifice for the town.
