PLOT: Detectives are thrust right into a chilling hunt for “Mr. Shiny”-a sadistic serial killer from the previous whose return marks the start of a brand new wave of grotesque, otherworldly crimes tied to a darkish cosmic pressure.
REVIEW: The recognition of true crime documentaries has been fairly regular, with many streaming companies showcasing a distinct case and most people actually taking to it. Some have extra success than others, however there’s little question that there’s a requirement for it. So it’s not stunning to see somebody come alongside and make a faux-documentary that blends the actual world with a way more sinister menace. Unusual Harvest is advised in a really simple documentary model, nearly like an episode of Dateline. However the place it differs, and should flip off some, is with its implication of the supernatural.
Unusual Harvest follows the investigation and manhunt for a serial killer going by the title of Mr. Shiny. He leaves a path of our bodies with some actually grotesque, ritualistic crime scenes that trace in direction of one thing extra sinister. The narrative shifts between interviews with the detectives on the case and varied eyewitnesses, to footage of the particular investigation itself. The performances are all pretty strong, with only some individuals who appear slightly off. However that’s anticipated with one thing like this. That is very unbiased however by no means feels hampered by the dearth of cash, and it’s fascinating to see the artistic decisions they make to get round that.
There’s discuss of AI-generated photographs within the movie, however since I wasn’t searching for them, I didn’t even discover till doing analysis for this overview. Like Late Night time With The Satan, there are going to be some individuals who instantly dismiss the movie because of its utilization, however I’m simply by no means going to be a type of folks. Certain, if a Marvel film begins going overboard with it, then certain, however I’m not going to bemoan a really indie movie with making an attempt to extend its manufacturing worth. I’m largely targeted on the nice sensible results that we get all through the movie that actually assist so as to add to the visceral nature of the crimes.
I actually loved how a lot they constructed up the lore of Mr. Shiny, together with his triangular image showing at each crime scene. Then the masks itself feels acquainted however distinctive sufficient that it doesn’t really feel prefer it’s stepping on the toes of different horror greats. It’s onerous to truly pull that off nowadays. There are positively some comparisons to be made with Se7en‘s John Doe, particularly with his notebooks and nature of his crime scenes but it never feels like a ripoff. Don’t get me improper, nothing is near Doe, nevertheless it’s clear he was a major inspiration right here. The house invasion side was rather well completed and, regardless of being fiction, actually highlights the vulnerability that most individuals put themselves in with out even realizing it. I definitely discovered myself considering moreso about residence safety after watching this, which is a tip of the hat to any horror movie. Grave Encounters‘ Stuart Ortiz took his discovered footage expertise and actually mixed it properly with the true crime documentary strategy.
The movie may be very bold for its restricted price range and is ready to do rather a lot with it. Certain, the performing is usually a little hokey and the documentary model may be limiting, however they by no means break the principles of discovered footage, which places it above different movies of its ilk. I discovered the story of Mr. Shiny to be intriguing, and every crime scene was extra charming than the final. It’s not going to be for everybody, however those that need their “true crime” repair ought to be properly served. Unusual Harvest is a narrative I’d like to see expanded upon and continued, as there’s clearly much more there than what we get throughout its 94-minute runtime.
STRANGE HARVEST IS PLAYING IN THEATERS ON AUGUST 8TH, 2025.
