Campy Dark Harvest (2023) is a Throwback to Ridiculous 2000s Popcorn Horror
Title: Dark Harvest
First Non-Festival Release: October 13, 2023 (Digital/Streaming Platforms)
Director: David Slade
Writer: Michael Gilio, Norman Partridge
Runtime: 93 Minutes
Starring: Casey Likes, Emyri Crutchfield, Dustin Ceithamer
Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here
Growing up in a small town can be rough, especially when so few opportunities are presented to you in life. Power and influence hit differently when townspeople know everyone in their community. Corruption on the local level may not be as provocative as a big city but it can be just as horrible.
Every year, high school senior boys in a small town must participate in ‘The Run.’ They are required to fast for three days, holed up in their rooms with no contact before being forced outside to hunt down Sawtooth Jack (Dustin Ceithamer), a creature that rises from the cornstalks. If one succeeds, they will be given a new home, car, and spending money. If one fails, they die. If they all fail to kill Sawtooth Jack, the entire town will be cursed. After his brother Jim (Britain Dalton) wins the previous year, Richie (Casey Likes) will stop at nothing to fill his shoes as he completes in ‘The Run’ this year.
A fresh take on young adult horror, Dark Harvest is an imaginative supernatural slasher with loads of gore and humor.
Not your typical small-town slasher, Dark Harvest envisions a world where rituals, deception, and teenage bloodshed abound. The dark and sordid history of an unnamed midwestern town is brought out in exquisite detail. Quickly, the audience learns about the dark tradition of teenagers tasked with hunting down a creature and eviscerating it. The lore of Sawtooth Jack, past winners, and the all-knowing nature of the town’s Farmer’s Guild gives Dark Harvest a unique edge to its story. More about the kids reactions towards their horrifically cynical lives, the film pushes viewers to think about the implications of such a culture of violence at a young age.
An unexpectedly brutal examination on the ways society fails boys and young men, Dark Harvest takes the time to sit with its male character’s fear, rage, and delusions and the adults who set them up for failure. Every year, these boys are forced to face their manhood against an unknown terror and in the absence of comfort or encouragement. Starved of human contact, and of food, they are then let loose on each other, crazed with a desire to prove themselves and satiate their hunger for food and blood. The competition aspect only supports this further. While small gangs form with the intent of making ‘The Run’ easier, working together isn’t encouraged. With addles of hormonal ridden teenagers fighting against each other for glory under immense pressure, they divide, making it easier for Sawtooth Jack and other kids to kill them.
Their parents knowingly let them participate in ‘The Run’ with all the dangers and consequences understood. When darkness comes to light at the end of the hunt, their pressure for their children to put their lives on the line for them reveals the true cynicism inside them. Dark Harvest asks parents would you put your child in harm’s way if it meant a better life for the rest of your family? It’s no surprise that Dark Harvest can be read as a loose metaphor for the Selective Service, and war in general. Across the world and cultures, boys and young men are sacrificed at the alter for promises of a better future by those who will never fight for it themselves. Or worse, those who did fight and see it as necessary, still continue that system. Martyrizing young men so others are suckered into falling into the same trap only makes the tradition more insidious. The pain and rage Richie feels when he finally understands this is palpable but necessary for his character arc.
Stunning visuals and a wickedly cool monster make the already engaging story even more captivating. It’s clear that Cinematographer Larry Smith and Director David Slade are on the same wavelength because Dark Harvest is a stunning horror film. Rich with atmospheric shots that nail the perfect tone for this nearly dystopian slasher, the cameras moves with the fluidity of a sleepy small town. Sawtooth Jack is a well-designed villain. Mixing the best of Pumpkinhead and Scarecrows, Dark Harvest creates a memorable and scary looking creature that fits the feel of the town perfectly. The gore is great too, with plenty of iconic kills that will stick with you.
Despite being an original and compelling feature, Dark Harvest stumbles in its execution of 1960s America. To start, the cast just doesn’t pass for 1960s, with most of them having a large case of smartphone face that is too evident to ignore, even with the best styling. The acting doesn’t do them any better. Most of the cast does a fine job with the material since it’s a relatively campy film but sometimes they overreach to the detriment of the period illusion. Emyri Crutchfield’s warm wild child Kelly and Jeremy Davies’ guilt-riddled Dan Shepard are among the few who put on a truly strong performance against the noise. The set design and wardrobe feel insincere too, with everything looking glossier and newer than it should be. While the authenticity can be called into question, it is more of an aesthetic disconnect than anything.
A dark horse candidate for one of the biggest surprises of 2023, Dark Harvest is gleefully dark young adult horror that still knows how to go for the jugular. Fantastic worldbuilding and a surprisingly meaty story make this supernatural slasher one of the most unique offerings of the year. Disregard its iffy performances and wild take on 1960s America and you will find it to be a perfectly fun slasher film with plenty to say. Don’t take it from me. Put Dark Harvest on your watchlist and you’ll reap exactly what you are meant to sow.
Overall Score? 7/10
