While we haven’t had too many new Halloween-themed films this year as Michael Myers takes a well-deserved break; we did get the adaptation of the Norman Patridge’s Dark Harvest.
This film has been in gestation for some time, but it finally looked likely after director David Slade was attached to direct. Some may recognise Slade’s name from 30 Days of Night and his work on Hannibal.
Here he is thrust into a Halloween story so rich in the lore, you can almost smell the pumpkin spice.
Dark Harvest feels like Halloween’s answer to the purge as the residents of a small town in America, are tasked with the annual task on All Hallows Eve of taking down the dastardly saw-toothed Jack.
This visually striking creature originates in the nearby cornfields, with a pumpkin for a head and bad intentions for anyone who gets in his way. The teens of the town have their own ideas though, and plot to take Jack down, with the prize of a flash new car and a cash prize for their family.
Like many small towns in these stories, they have secrets and this Halloween they start to manifest as Sawtoothed Jack runs amok in the town.
With Slade’s direction the film looks slick, and has a likeable lead in Casey Likes, and although it does fumble the conclusion slightly, there is plenty to enjoy here.
Dark Harvest has potential to become a yearly watch at the best time of year.
Dark Harvest is now available on Amazon Video.
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