Harbinger Down

 

Name: Harbinger Down

Directed By: Alec Gillis

Subgenre: Creature Feature, Body Horror 

Series: Spooktober 2018 entry #16

Review: This film, even more so than The Void (previously reviewed here), is a direct homage to John Carpenter's The Thing, which also happens to be my favorite horror movie (and likely many of yours as well). The crew of the Harbinger are evaluating the effects of global warming in the Bering Sea when they stumble across a frozen Soviet spacecraft. Unbeknownst to them, opening up the craft unleashes a creature trapped within that proceeds to stalk and devour the crew, absorbing them into its ever-growing mass. Sound familiar? That's because, while absolutely still an homage to it, Harbinger Down's plot and general template are essentially just copy/pasted from The Thing but transplanted onto a boat rather than an Antarctic science outpost. Like The Thing, it is a practical effects heavy creature feature whose creature mutates in unpredictable, grotesque, and oh-so-cool ways. But, does it live up to its predecessor? Unfortunately not: Harbinger Down does have some really great monster designs and effects, but that's the best thing going for it. The acting is competent enough, but it often feels forced; the characters are distinct, but not memorable and their dialogue remains fairly stiff throughout. Even the most appealing feature--the creature(s)--is often obscured by the director's use of an overly shaking camera and poor lighting. At the end of the day, Harbinger Down is a solid nod to the monster mashes of the 80's but evokes little of their ghoulish charm.

Overall Score: 3 out of 5 Chads unnerved by what lurks beneath the ice. Did Harbinger Down scare you? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

IMDB: Here

How to Watch: Harbinger Down is available on these platforms. 

Official Trailer