The Harbinger (2022) – Movie Review (2/5)

THE HARBINGER is a new horror movie starring Madeleine McGraw (The Black Phone) as a very creepy little girl. There is actually already another horror movie out in 2022 with the same title, but the two are very different. Read our The Harbinger (2022) movie review here!

THE HARBINGER is a new horror movie that has the exact same title as another horror movie released in 2022. On top of that, they both have a supernatural plot and are both low-budget. This is where the similarities end.

The stories are very different and the overall style can’t really be compared either. Also, the runtime on this one is 1 hour and 48 minutes which is way too much for the story.

Continue reading our The Harbinger (2022) movie review below. The film is out on September 2, 2022.

A very different The Harbinger 

To be fair, I’ll start by saying that I much preferred the other The Harbinger which had a pandemic storyline. This new one has more of a “creepy demonic child” based on a strange “folklore paired with Christianity”-plot. Yeah, I wanted to like it, but ultimately found it too messy.

DO CHECK OUT

Our review of the pandemic-themed The Harbinger which is set in an alternative reality >

This new religion/spirituality-based storyline stars Madeleine McGraw as the creepy little girl who seems to leave bodies in her wake. Well, when I say bodies, it should be noted that those who die always commit suicide. It’s an important element of the plot, actually.

Maybe my expectations were just too great after having watched Madeleine McGraw as the amazing younger sister in The Black Phone (2022). In this movie, she mostly has to look like the iconic demonic child. Well, except for in flashbacks when she was still a normal and sweet child. The difference is as obvious as it is almost too much.

Still, Madeleine McGraw has obvious talent. It’s just that the story is a little too on-the-nose for my liking in that sense.

I do love the concept

There is one huge redeeming quality to The Harbinger. It has absolutely nothing to do with how good the movie is, but it does have a lot to do with how it was produced. Veteran Films is the non-profit production company behind this new horror movie.

This production company was created to provide jobs for veterans, battered women, Native Americans, and “Rangers” in the film industry. I absolutely love this concept and wanted to like the movie even more solely based on this.

Veteran Films is also unique in how it works by taking film novices and helping them learn the film business by “doing”. Or letting individuals migrate to jobs they may find more suitable for their future within the business. Finally, Veteran Films’ focus is stated at being “hiring local crew and talent, or those connected in some manner locally”.

And I love all of this. But there still needs to be a quality check of some sort. With this movie, it feels like allowing people to do whatever they wanted weighed higher than making a good movie. And it shows. Which is a damn shame since the story could’ve been told much stronger (and better).

You can watch The Harbinger in theaters or on demand

Will Klipstine is the director and also co-wrote the movie with Amy Mills. In fact, Will Klipstine also stars in this film and I think it would have been better if he let someone else do that and focus on filmmaking. There is some very stiff acting in a few scenes and it’s a shame. He is usually better.

However, I do love Irene Bedard who plays Floating Hawk in The Harbinger and shines in every scene, she has. If you’ve watched the Paramount+ series The Stand (yes, based on the Stephen King book) or The Mist series (yes, also based on a Stephen King story), then you’ll recognize her.

Look, I can’t recommend watching The Harbinger for the movie itself. But I do want to support what Veteran Films is trying to do in helping those that really do need help to carve out a better life for themselves. Do with that what you will and be sure to check out the movie if you feel the same way. It does have good moments – but also several less than good.

The Harbinger from Veteran Films and Screen Media is out in select theaters and on-demand from September 2, 2022.

Details

Director: Will Klipstine
Writers: Will Klipstine and Amy Mills
Cast: Will Klipstine, Irene Bedard, Madeleine McGraw, Amanda MacDonald, Steve Monroe