Strange Harvest Summary and Review - True Crime Meets Cosmic Horror

Strange Harvest is a mockumentary-style found-footage film that follows a police investigation into a series of brutal murders in a San Bernardino suburb. The story is presented through interviews, recovered footage and TV news clips, beginning with the discovery of a local family killed and arranged in a manner that confounds the police and horrifies the community. As detectives look into the case, they uncover links to earlier murders carried out by an unidentified killer known as “Mr Shiny.”

Mr Shiny Returns

Progress is slow and the police hit a series of frustrating dead-ends, while Mr Shiny continues his reign of terror and taunts them with cryptic notes filled with obscure phrases and references to “Kaliban” and other cult-like curiosities. Interviews with two former detective partners — Lexi Taylor and Joe Kirby — help shape the film’s account of how the investigation unfolded. Their perspectives gradually introduce hints of something more ritualistic beneath the surface and suggest a pattern of death, sacrifice and attempted cosmic resurrection.

The Crime Documentary Format

One of the most striking elements of Strange Harvest is how convincingly it replicates the crime documentary format. The attention to detail is commendable, with interviews intercut alongside body-cam footage and TV news reports to create a gripping narrative. It includes all the familiar ingredients: horrific and seemingly motiveless murders, puzzled detectives, interviews with witnesses and experts, and public frustration over the lack of progress in catching the killer. Building on the realism, there is a brief moment of hope when a young victim survives, but this is soon snatched away, adding a layer of poignancy that breaks the tension and reminds us of the human cost behind the investigation. 

The film makes good use of its found-footage style, striking a balance so that the material neither looks too slick nor too scrappy and for a time, you could believe you were watching a genuine true-crime documentary rather than a piece of fiction.

A Lack of Curiosity

It was held back somewhat by a lack of curiosity from the characters over a number of aspects: The strange references in the notes; the way the victims were killed; the references to the aforementioned Kaliban and the fact that Mr Shiny discarded one potential victim when he discovered he wasn't diabetic. I would have expected more investigation into the deeper meanings of these clues but little in the way of explanation was offered. Developing these elements further, especially as Mr Shiny was discovered to have studied the occult, would have heightened the mystery and added more intrigue.

It maintains an even pace, moving forward steadily but also includes a large number of investigative dead-ends. While this is realistic, it becomes repetitive and leads to several anticlimactic moments. A more discriminating approach to editing could have maintained a tighter narrative.

In terms of effects, one survivor suffers terrible burn injuries at the hands of Mr Shiny, which are clearly intended to be shocking, but the final result looks more like a melted face-mask than the scars of third degree burns although it's clear that work went into making it. It’s a brief distraction, but it stands out in an otherwise grounded presentation.

The performances are solid throughout. Taylor and Kirby (Terri Apple and Peter Zizzo) deliver convincing portrayals of colleagues with different approaches to the job — Taylor the cynical, sharp-edged veteran, and Kirby the somber, more measured counterpoint. They never appear together on screen, but their interviews complement each other well enough that you can imagine them working as partners in real life. Although one criticism is that the killer, when on screen, gives an awkward performance that looks stagey and weakens the impact of his appearance.

Verdict

Strange Harvest is a flawed but engaging mockumentary that delivers more than expected for its small budget. It leans into the horror of Lovecraftian cosmology but viewers hoping for a stronger payoff in this vein may find it unsatisfying. However, its strong use of format, effective performances and unsettling moments make it a worthwhile watch, even if some ideas are left underdeveloped and the pacing dips at times. Overall, it earns its 3.5 out of 5 rating as an enjoyable and well-made low-budget effort.

3.5/5

Lexi Taylor: Terri Apple
Joe Kirby: Peter Zizzo
Mr Shiny: Jessee J. Clarkson
Director: Stuart Ortiz
Writer: Stuart Ortiz 
Year of Release: 2025
Runtime: 94 minutes