I’ve long been a fan of Athina Rachel Tsangari’s work—Attenberg and Chevalier stand out as brilliant pieces of cinema, so when I saw that ‘Harvest’ was featured at the London Film Festival, I was eager to see how it would measure up. Sadly, despite its potential and moments of brilliance, the film ultimately falls short of expectations.

Visually, ‘Harvest’ is quite impressive. The production design and costumes effectively channel an ancient British aesthetic that feels both authentic and imaginative, which is no small feat for an independent film with a modest budget. The cinematography further elevates this, utilizing intimate camera work to build a palpable sense of tension and immerse us in the film’s exploration of culture. There’s clearly a lot of care taken to make every shot feel meaningful and atmospheric.

The performances are another highlight. Caleb Landry Jones delivers one of his best performances to date, and the supporting cast also shows a commendable commitment to their roles. Their efforts do give the film a sense of life and urgency—at least on the surface.

Unfortunately, beyond its technical and performance achievements, ‘Harvest’ struggles to find a compelling narrative or message. It feels aimless, flowing from one scene to the next without building towards anything meaningful. While some films can pull off a meandering structure effectively, here it just comes off as tedious. The pacing is a major flaw; scenes drag on far too long, making this two-hour-plus movie feel unnecessarily bloated. This isn’t like The Revenant, where a similar approach is justified by sheer visual and narrative intensity. In ‘Harvest’, the lack of engaging material only makes the slow pace feel more grueling, especially as the drawn-out ending overstays its welcome.

Another problem lies with the film’s supporting characters, who are portrayed as exaggerated versions of people from the time period. While this could work in a satirical or comedic context, ‘Harvest’ seems to want us to take these characters seriously while also expecting us to laugh at their over-the-top antics. This creates a tonal confusion that leaves the film feeling inconsistent and ultimately flat. Whether this was an intentional choice or a misstep, it detracts from any emotional or thematic resonance the film tries to achieve.

In the end, ‘Harvest’ feels like a rehash of better films that have explored similar themes with far more style and passion. It appears to be an attempt to create an artsy, evocative piece of cinema, but the lack of substance and energy leaves it feeling hollow. I genuinely wanted to like it, and I can appreciate certain aspects of its craft. However, the overall experience was disappointing and, frankly, boring.

I would be curious to hear from those who see something more in ‘Harvest’ because, from my perspective, it’s a film with a lot of missed opportunities. For now, I can’t help but feel it fell flat on its face.

Rating: 3/10