Strange Harvest

Writer/director Stuart Ortiz made an entertaining mockumentary about a serial killer with a passion for the occult. To be honest if I didn't know it was a mockumentary I could have believed it was true as the acting from the cast looked very convincing. I watch a lot of those daytime true crime stories so if I would have stumbled on this one in daytime they could have me fooled. And although I liked watching it I think it would have been a better idea to make a movie about it. It had "7even" potential, a good story about a weird psychopath. I think it could have been great in this genre. But as a mockumentary it worked well as well but higher than a seven I would never rate this genre of movies.

Strange Harvest had so much promise, blending its true crime element seamlessly into an eerie, gripping story. For most of the runtime, I was hooked with the pacing, atmosphere, and slow-burn tension were top notch. Unfortunately, the ending completely fizzled. There's barely any satisfying conclusion, and not even a clever final twist to leave on a high note. It's such a shame, because the rest was so strong. A 6/10 for me. Worth watching, but the final moments left me more frustrated than thrilled.

...then watch the Horror in the High Desert trilogy.

I enjoyed Strange Harvest, but it wasn't entirely believable as a mockumentary and the scares were lacking. The ending seemed to set it up for a sequel, which I'll watch given the lack of answers we were given.

It's my opinion, but I think mockumentaries are scarier when they're majority video- this one relies much more on grotesque photos that weren't always successful in building tension.

"San Bernardino County. San Bernardino County. San Bernardino County. "

"Until it led us to another clue. Until it led us to another clue. Until it led us to another clue."

"And we found nothing. And we found nothing. And we found nothing."

"But then something unexpected happened. But then something unexpected happened. But then something unexpected happened."

The end.

Lol.

This was a tedious watch. If it wasn't obvious from my description above - it felt very repetitive until the predictable "climax." Almost fell asleep, but battled through. I don't get the hype - looks like I'm in the minority.

In the vein of Noroi and Lake Mungo - but doesn't add anything to the genre.

More of a true crime thriller than a horror (until the very end - even then it leans more sci-fi than horror). Seems like people attach "horror" to anything now (if there's a modicum of gore) probably because it has an established audience.

I enjoyed the first Grave Encounters (didn't know it was the same writer/director until now), this was disappointing.

Strange Harvest is a fascinating hybrid on paper a horror mockumentary that merges the unsettling realism of true crime with the creeping dread of a slasher film. Directed by Stuart Ortiz (Grave Encounters), the film chronicles the return of a long-dormant serial killer known as "Mr. Shiny," who resurfaces in Southern California's Inland Empire after a 20-year absence. Told through interviews with detectives, witnesses, and survivors, the story unfolds much like a Netflix docuseries or an Investigation Discovery special, but with the menace of a fictional monster lurking between the lines.

If you're a fan of the ID Channel or Netflix crime documentaries especially those built on talking head interviews, crime scene photos, and slow burn narrative reveals this movie is squarely in your wheelhouse. Ortiz nails the structure of a prestige docuseries, right down to the ominous voiceovers, grainy police footage, and staged reenactments that look just believable enough to make you forget you're watching a scripted film. The two lead detectives, played with grit and weary realism, give the story a grounded center, and the Inland Empire setting brings a sun-bleached, suburban eeriness to the proceedings.

That said, while the format is well executed, it's also limiting. There's a compelling protagonist here, and Mr. Shiny himself is an intriguing, cryptic villain-but the rigid docu-style storytelling keeps them both at arm's length. We're always watching them through someone else's filter, rather than fully inhabiting their world. The horror elements, when they arrive, are effective but sparse, sometimes feeling like they're spliced in rather than organically growing from the story.

This is where Strange Harvest may divide audiences. For true crime devotees, the authenticity and attention to procedural detail will be a treat. For horror fans looking for immersive tension or sustained scares, the docu-style pacing might feel like a slow drip that never fully erupts. And for viewers like me, who see the potential in the premise but want more than just a convincing imitation of a streaming documentary, it's hard not to wish the film broke free of its own structure.

Ultimately, Strange Harvest is a well crafted experiment that succeeds at what it's trying to do-recreate the feeling of a prestige true-crime do, but in doing so, it may have boxed itself in. It's a film that feels almost too convincing for its own good, leaving you wondering if the same story might have worked better told without the mockumentary constraints.