The Harbinger is a 2022 American supernatural horror film about a plague mask-wearing dream demon that feeds on its victims’ souls.
Written, co-produced, directed, edited and scored by Andy Mitton (The Witch in the Window; We Go On; Chilling Visions: 5 Senses of Fear ‘Listen’ segment; YellowBrickRoad). Also produced by Jay Dunn and Richard W. King. Executive produced by Clark Freeman.
The One Bad Idea Films production stars Stephanie Roth Haberle, Anthony Thomas, Laura Heisler, Gabby Beans, Emily Davis, Jay Dunn and Cody Braverman.
Plot synopsis:
When her oldest friend is plagued by horrific nightmares from the beyond, Monique (Gabby Beans) is forced to travel to New York City. On the first night of the visit, Monique learns the dreams are contagious – and so is the Harbinger, the plague mask-wearing demon who not only feeds on its victims’ souls but warps reality itself to remove any trace of their existence.
Reviews:
“ …The Harbinger excels at striking a balance between fantastical genre elements and topical real-world concerns. As Mavis and Mo become increasingly ill, the film’s underlying message is two-fold: a disease you don’t believe in can still infect and kill you, but hope and optimism are essential for combatting the dread and despair of this world.” 3.5 out of 5, Bloody Disgusting
“The harbinger – think plague doctor with the pointy nose mask – that Mitton has chosen to scare us with is its own supernatural virus. A demon who is exploiting the pandemic because we’re all so isolated. It’s a great metaphor for the fear and confusion of the last few years, but The Harbinger is also a seething comment on those who chose to ‘not believe’ in Covid too.” Britflicks
“The Harbinger manages to accomplish a lot with a little. An intimate horror story that uses the time-tested trope of an idea spreading like a virus, The Harbinger succeeds, even with odd pacing choices in the film’s finale.” 7 out of 10, But Why Tho?
“Gripes aside, The Harbinger is a unique and engaging story of collective trauma and the creatures that feast on that pain. With good performances and an interesting premise, this is a film that delivers on most of its promise and does it with an engaging look and feel. While it won’t dethrone any of the great dream-based horror films, it is a worthy addition to the pantheon.” CGM Backlot magazine
“The Harbinger effectively presents a chilling concept involving dreams, comparable to A Nightmare on Elm Street, to address the horrors of isolation and the ongoing pandemic, as well as the importance of acknowledging our existence. This is not a film to watch alone late at night. Dealing with the pandemic while also trying not to get infected with a demon determined to erase your existence is way too relatable in 2022.” 4 out of 5, Daily Dead
“Skilfully crafted, The Harbinger is a rightly distressing, melancholy take on the events of the recent past and the troubles we still live with today […] One hopes that it will mark the start, not the end, of a conversation about how we deal with real world horrors. All this aside, as a piece of fictional horror, it will send a real shiver down your spine.” 4.5 out of 5, Eye for Film
“Many horror movies have had elements of the pandemic weaved into their plots, but this is perhaps the best-crafted horror story set in the very familiar pandemic world, we’re living in. Everything is eerily familiar and then there’s the iconic horror plot driver of nightmares that never let up. You’ll want to check out this one whenever you can!” Heaven of Horror
“The Harbinger may serve to be Andy Mitton’s magnum opus, or perhaps it is simply another in a long line of impressive films for the seasoned director. If we can still manage to tackle a subject as already-tired as the pandemic in ways that scare and titillate unsuspecting audience members, there may truly be hope left for exciting, risk-taking genre filmmaking.” 4.5 out of 5, Josh at the Movies
“It is not clear if the harbinger kills you in the sense that it cuts your mortal coil, and you shuffle off to the next life. Or if, when it snatches you, you blink out of existence, so there is no ‘after.’ So there are chills in the concept. The ending was spooky, with a tinge of sadness, but The Harbinger lacks a throughline to make the movie stand out.” Nightmarish Conjurings
” …The Harbinger deftly captures the collective trauma of the pandemic era, and will undoubtedly emerge as the finest genre film to engage with the real-world horrors that have defined the last few years. But perhaps the film’s most terrifying message is that the pandemic is only the beginning.” 5 out of 5, Our Culture
Trailer:
Release:
The Harbinger had its world premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival on July 20, 2022.
Notes:
Not to be confused with The Harbinger (2022) directed by Will Klipstine and starring Madeleine McGraw and Irene Bedard.
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