By: JWBM
A family moves away from the city for an attempt at rekindling a deeper connection, while at the same time putting to rest deeper issues between husband and wife. The destination is a remote house in the country—specifically Amish country—where the grass is greener, air is cleaner, and things are simpler than the concrete, technological boxes we've trapped ourselves in. This puts them more in touch with nature: something that can bring about a tranquil side of us, or a more primal one that can be a beast to contain once unleashed.
The framework of "The Harvesting" (aka "Soul Harvest") is built around a psychological horror drama. The story is basic in itself, though it has a certain gravitating fluidity to it from the rhythmic camera work to the worked through and natural dialogue. I mean, simple Amish folks and remote landscapes with nothing but wind to create drama with leaves and blades of grass isn't something you'd think would stir the senses or interest. Though the film has a certain consistency to it to draw you in to see what comes next with this particular place and these set of people.
This has a unique dynamic to it with how it splices between troubles in the established Amish household, and then to the newly arrived city folks. The woods act as a looming central character to bridge them together. Instead of a knife wielding maniac, this acts as a villain that distorts thoughts and reality for someone who lets turmoil, anger, and confusion into their mind. It makes it feel more relatable than seeing someone playing hide and seek with a Michael Myers clone in your everyday horror feature. There are certainly scares, though not of the pop-out, blood-and-guts variety. More like ones that slowly get under your skin and are more uncomfortable and unsettling than they are outright all-at-once stressful.
Unlike some other horror features that use drama between the characters as filler, or to create a false sense of tension, this uses it as an integral part of its story. This is more subtle than, say, a survival horror that delivers a one-body-down, who's who, visceral experience you can almost reach out and touch. The film has a rough outline at times that weaves and bobs between tracing along the dotted line to connect through down-to-earth vibes of relationships, to then steering off the path into uncharted territory that doesn't come with hand painted signs to tell you how far you've come or where you're headed to next. It makes the brain turn over a little more than outright spilling the beans or holding your hand. While the story wasn't mind-blowing from what's been done before, and the final destination wasn't flooring, "The Harvesting" is still a well-made film from a series of worked through mechanics to keep you engaged using a premise that some might otherwise over look.
Rating: 7.5/10
Director: Ivan Kraljevic
Actors: Chris Conner, Elena Caruso, Greg Wood
Info: IMDB link
Trailer: YouTube trailer
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