The 2024 horror season gets an early start with the bloody gem, Night of the Harvest, a low budget slasher film that gleefully celebrates both the genre and the spirit of the Halloween season. Written and directed by Christopher M. Carter and Jessica Morgan, this is a picture that doesn’t put on airs and knows exactly what it wants to be. The filmmakers have no desire to change the game nor poke fun at the slasher genre. This is no Scream, and that is a good thing, as that series has long run its course. 

Armed with fun homages, a good knack for atmosphere, and a back-to-basics style, Carter and Morgan are quite successful at giving fans a well-designed, bloody, throwback to the vicious masked killer films of the 70s and 80s.

As the film begins, it has been a year since Madison (Brittany Isabell) survived a vicious attack in a cornfield that killed her boyfriend and scarred her for life. On Halloween night, her sister Audrey (co-director Morgan) talks Madison into joining her for a party. What was supposed to be a diverting Halloween bash turns into a Hell night for the two sisters and their friends, as a killer in a scarecrow mask begins slashing through victims with an ax. 

As Madison confronts her deepest fears, all is not as it seems. The sinister secrets behind the killer’s motive will find her bound to the bloodletting, as Madison is the victim of a dark curse from long ago. 

The directors are in complete control of their story and (especially) the brutal kill scenes. Carter and Morgan’s screenplay takes an interesting and inventive path when it comes to the reason for the murderous rampage. Night of the Harvest weaves the history of Halloween (“Sauin” or “Samhain”) into its tale of terror. The legends of the harvest season and the sacrifices that were made to appease the pagan gods play a creative and important part in the killer’s existence. 

When it comes to the killings, the filmmakers work hard to assure that gore fans will be appeased. The attack scenes are hardcore vicious and, in their own way, pay homage to darkly-lit, bloodstained, slashers such as William Lustig’s Maniac and Emmett Alston’s New Year’s Evil, both released in 1980. In this one (just as in the previously mentioned films), when the masked slayer comes for their victims, the blades plunge into the flesh, the dark-red blood splatters, and the gruesome sound effects squish. 

Co-director Carter is also the cinematographer. His eye for how to use the frame, coupled with the dark oranges and almost Giallo-tinged reds of the lighting choices, gives the entire picture a properly creepy and sinister atmospheric vibe. 

Most importantly, directors Christopher M. Carter and Jessica Morgan make it a fun ride for horror fiends. After all, horror films (especially any slasher picture worth its salt) should be a thrilling and popcorn-chomping good time. 

A gruesomely entertaining beginning to this year’s spooky movie season, Night of the Harvest is a solid slasher flick fueled by a well-crafted screenplay and a respectful dedication to the genre and its fans.

The film screened at the Hollywood Independent Filmmaker Awards & Festival and won the Silver award for Best Narrative Horror Feature.

Gravitas Ventures will release the film on digital platforms on September 24, 2024.

Night of the Harvest

Written & Directed by Christopher M. Carter and Jessica Morgan

Starring Brittany Isabell, Jessica Morgan, Aeric Azana, Jim Cirner

NR, 107 Minutes, Carter Ink Films, Gravitas Ventures, Come About Productions