“What is it with this corn?”
Vickie-Children of the Corn
Dark Harvest sets the stage for a truly unique horror experience with its rich autumnal aesthetic and promise of folklore-fueled scares. Directed by David Slade, this adaptation of Norman Partridge’s novel has all the ingredients for a fresh, brutal horror story with some truly wild visuals. And for the first half, Dark Harvest delivers on this promise, drawing us into its twisted world of small-town superstition and Halloween terror. Unfortunately, despite its killer setup, the film stumbles as it struggles to bring its ambitious ideas to a satisfying conclusion.
Visually, Dark Harvest absolutely nails it. The film is drenched in dark fall colors, and every frame feels like it was shot through a haze of autumn smoke. Slade’s direction shines here, conjuring an almost claustrophobic atmosphere, trapping us in this bleak town where tradition runs as deep as fear. The design of the creature, Sawtooth Jack, is impressive, too—his presence alone injects the film with moments of intensity that horror fans will love. But while Dark Harvest has style to spare, it sometimes feels like the substance gets lost in the shadows.
Where Dark Harvest stumbles is in its execution of the story; the well-performed characters feel underdeveloped and don’t quite pull us into the emotional core of the tale. The script sets up interesting themes about loyalty, tradition, and survival but doesn’t dig deep enough into any of them, leaving the characters’ motivations feeling a little thin. The pacing is another issue; while the slow build works initially, it eventually bogs down, making certain parts feel repetitive. By the time we get to the climax, the film struggles to keep up the tension it worked so hard to establish.
One of Dark Harvest‘s biggest weaknesses lies in the underwhelming performances, which struggle to elevate the story’s stakes. While the actors are clearly committed, their portrayals often feel flat and unconvincing, leaving little emotional impact. Casey Likes and Emyri Crutchfield both lack the depth needed to make us care about their fates, and their interactions come off as forced or overly rehearsed, failing to capture the gritty desperation the story demands. The lackluster performances ultimately undercut the film’s chilling atmosphere, weakening the impact of what could have been standout scenes.
Dark Harvest is a visually haunting film with some memorable moments, but it ultimately leaves you wanting more from the story. Slade’s direction and the film’s aesthetic are on point, and Sawtooth Jack has the potential to become a cult horror icon. But with a plot that doesn’t dig deep enough, the performances are amateurish. The pacing drags to a point where the film feels like it was edited by someone who had never done it before. Dark Harvest is almost a Halloween treat that, while satisfying in parts, doesn’t fully deliver on its chilling promise.
Rating: 5.5/10
