Harvesters

Watched it both on VHS & DVD! This is Don Dohler's best ever film and guaranteed to please his long time fans as well as new recruits. Joe Ripple deserves kudos for his directorial debut and should be motivated to do another film as quickly as possible. Here is hoping that Dohler and Ripple team up again to scare the "crap" out of us and make our "guts" churn with heart thumping mayhem! Don't miss this bloody epic!

I'll waste no time and spare misunderstanding and start by saying this: This work is an INDEPENDENT FILM, not a Hollywood production. With that said, let it be known that all opinions and critiques that follow are based NOT on "Hollywood's Standard," but rather the appropriate Independent Film Standard.

Small town artist and Independent Film cult icon Don Dohler follows up his cinematic return ("Alien Rampage," or, "The Alien Factor 2: Alien Rampage") with his first project shot entirely on Digital Video. Based loosely off his 1987 horror/thriller, "Blood Massacre," "Harvesters" depicts the classic situation of two sets of baddies unwittingly pitted against each other.

This film (despite being shot on Digital Video, I will refer to this as a film) for all it is worth is a great effort and compared to most independent works, this work is something to be respected. For the resources at hand, director Joe Ripple and Don make do very well. Albeit the use of Computer Generated Imagery was over done, and a selection of the actors' performances was sub par, the film itself successfully puts the message of tension and conflict well enough. The physical make-up effects used were for the most part believable.

Although "Harvesters" may not be ready to go to Oscars or be penned in history's books as a great, it is still worthy of mention and of viewing, especially if you are an aspiring film maker.

I give this film a 6.5 out of 10.

I'm wondering why nobody has mentioned Pamela Mones' involvement with the film. As a woman screenwriter, the movie clearly shows the influence of her input into the character-driven film as well as the horror elements that Don Dohler is known for. To ignore the contribution of one of the writers downplays how this film got such favorable reviews compared with other Dohler films, especially regarding story structure and tightly scripted scenes. It would make an interesting project for some film student to compare Dohler's earlier works (and those since Havesters) to determine if gender in fact influences the medium of film.

If this film weren't shot on mom's camcorder, which lends a certain amateur quality that isn't the "fun" kind, it might be a sort of minor trash classic. It's flamboyantly sleazy but also hapless, which is good, so the sleaze feels entertainingly faux. (Rather than, y'know, icky.) The performances are bad but committed, the story moves along despite a lack of real surprises, and the violence is ample--even if the gore is pretty much Halloween-party-grade. In other words, it's a guilty pleasure...just not a memorable one. It does seem to be a step up from the director's prior work--I tried something called "Fiend" first, and that was a little too much on the "unwatchable" side.

I just have to say this was the first movie I learned of two people I have come to admire their work since first seeing them. One is Director Joe Ripple which I have seen all of his films since this one. I also began to admire Leanna Chamish one of the main actresses in this film whom I have also followed her career since. Both did a great job with this film and I certainly became a fan after seeing this film. I think its one of the best Independent films I have seen along with a lot of their other stuff. Joe Ripple has done an excellent job in the independent horror film scene and is certainly continuing to grow his following. He is truly a guy who is dedicated to making each of his films better and truly enjoys what he does. As well, Leanna Chamish who worked on this film with him continues to work with him getting better with each film she does as well. Both are real people who love the art of what they are doing beyond making a big name, or just big bucks for themselves. Truly if you watch a lot of the behind the scenes stuff in any of Ripple's movie one quickly learns what a giving and honestly nice guy he is. I for one would love the chance to work with him in a movie even if I just got killed off in a quick scene would certainly be worth it to me.