Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Extreme gore in excellent serial killer faux documentary.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
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Strange Harvest
What's the Story?
In STRANGE HARVEST, San Bernardino homicide detectives Alexis "Lexi" Taylor (Terri Apple) and Joe Kirby (Peter Zizzo) tell the story of the long hunt for a serial killer known as "Mr. Shiny" (Jessee J. Clarkson) for a documentary. The events begin with the brutal murder of a family of three in 2010. The police discover a strange symbol painted in blood on the ceiling of the family's home, suggesting that Mr. Shiny is back after a mysterious 15-year absence. The documentary then reveals Mr. Shiny's first victims in the early 1990s before returning to the present. The killer strikes again and again, never leaving any fingerprints or DNA, and clues are scarce. But little by little, the detectives build their case, all of which leads up to a terrifying ritual involving a kidnapped baby on the night of Friday the 13th, 2011.
Is It Any Good?
It's not easy to pull of a convincing faux documentary, but this ingenious movie does it by blending an exceedingly intelligent screenplay with a firm grasp of documentary style. Written and directed by Stuart Ortiz, Strange Harvest builds a history for its intriguing villain, up to and including the strange supernatural lore around the coming of "Kaliban," as well as explaining his travels during his 15-year absence. (This sequence is totally unnecessary to the narrative, but it deepens the experience, making it all the more believable.) The film also follows the detectives' legwork, piecing together the most meager of clues, hitting dead ends, and sparking strokes of luck. No detail is too small for this movie. Even stars Apple and Zizzo feel like they could be real homicide detectives.
Ortiz also has a feel for true crime documentaries and reality shows and the cheesy way they manipulate stories for maximum dramatic impact, including pregnant pauses (queued up by lines like "but that was nothing compared to what was coming next") and shocking cuts. The 1990s-era footage looks totally authentic, from clothing styles to video technology. But where Strange Harvest becomes something more than just a clever crime re-creation is in its epilogue. Taylor and Kirby confess that they have no idea why Mr. Shiny did what he did, and his crimes will not only be a mystery forever, but will weigh on their consciences forever. The real tragedy is that all of this stuff, all of these fascinating events, comes to mean exactly nothing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Strange Harvest's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
What's the appeal of movies and shows about serial killers? Why are they frequently fascinating?
How well does this movie work as a faux documentary? Did it seem authentic? If so, how?
What's interesting about police procedurals? How does the attention to details translate to an entertaining story?
What is the movie's ultimate message? Would it help viewers to know what Mr. Shiny was thinking and why he was doing what he was doing? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 8, 2025
- On DVD or streaming : September 9, 2025
- Cast : Peter Zizzo , Terri Apple , Jessee J. Clarkson
- Director : Stuart Ortiz
- Studios : Saban Films , Roadside Attractions
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Activism ( Climate change , Civic engagement ) , Animals ( Farm Animals ) , STEM ( Nature , Science )
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : disturbing/grisly violent content and language
- Last updated : September 9, 2025
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