Review of The Harvest (2015) by Brett B — 25 Jan 2016

THE HARVEST takes its sweet time getting to the unsettling elements, but once they arrive, they're truly upsetting. Those expecting graphic horror or unparalleled terror should look elsewhere, for even as the film is absolutely effective in its chills (and even more for the implications of its ideas), the bulk of the story revolves around the relationship between two lonely kids.

It is this relationship that is the movie's backbone, and it is completely charming and (for lack of a better word) sweet, and it is well-etched by Tahan and Calis. In some ways, the movie is like the most grounded and grim installment of the GOOSEBUMPS series never written, and while the darker edges don't immediately reveal themselves, they're worth the wait.

The story employs a twist that I suspect many will see coming (I certainly did, not to pat myself on the back), but that fact doesn't lessen the impact of it when it plays out. Morton and Shannon do excellent work in their parts; Shannon has a great, sad-hangdog thing going on here as he plays a character who so clearly doesn't want to be in the situation he's caught in but is constantly beaten down and over-ridden by Morton's character.

Morton, for her part, manages to be be both sympathetic and totally unhinged; she 100% commits to her character's increasing derangement in ways that might remind some of elements of MISERY or CARRIE.

THE HARVEST is a small film - though one that looks considerably slicker than you might expect (complete with some nice autumn atmosphere) - but the strength of its unsettling premise and its four central performances are enough to push it over the top.