The Harbinger 2022 Predicts Being Erased By Despair

Director and writer Andy Mitton’s best horror movie, The Harbinger takes a theme most of us are tired of. Fortunately, this time, the COVID-19 premise not only shines as a backseat driver, but it also hits differently as well. I’m not saying any of the films about the global pandemic are boring, but I wasn’t overly excited about watching them after a while. Mitton’s previous horror movies “We Go On” and “The Witch in the Window” were received in a positive light. I must admit The Harbinger certainly didn’t end up being what I expected.

The Harbinger begins in a small darkened apartment. Mavis and Jason both wear masks. Both seem caught in a severely nightmarish scenario. Blood drips down her arm and she screams as Jason tries to de-escalate the situation in front of him. In another part of town, Ronald, Moe, and Lyle live a closed life under strict isolation in an attempt to keep their community safe. The connection between Mavis and Moe goes way back. Old friends with similar demons who share a special bond. So when Mavis calls Moe in her time of need, the fact that a deadly disease rages around them doesn’t stop her from getting in her car and seeing what she can do to help.

This story ties into images related to that of The Harbinger Plague Doctor generally surmised as being a bringer of despair. Brought in to heal the sick, his presence often spread the plagues he was supposed to heal. And so in this story, the demon under scrutiny takes on two personas. Both a demon and a metaphoric entity could very well be a dreamscape figment representing the scope of deaths around the world.

The Harbinger Wants to Plant an Idea… Of Your Impending Death

A slow-burn narrative, The Harbinger dwells too long in the nightmares of Moe and Mavis. For so long, I lost focus on the film. Thankfully, the story had another gear in its repository. The repetitive nightmares consisting of scary images outstayed their welcome. However, they did do their job of creating a sleight-of-hand moment that was extremely clever. A pivotal scene early on passed unnoticed.

More importantly, it proved The Harbinger was more than just a movie about being in a dream within a dream within a dream. There are tonnes of cinematic narratives that try to push a movie with this idea. They are more often than not simply confusing and rarely are they successful. But here, I realized not only did Mitton smash the oversaturated trapped in a dream idea right, but he also lit it up with a romantic and beautiful sentiment about cherishing the people that come into our lives.

The Harbinger movie includes seamless performances from all involved. A suitable poetic score cements its darkest moments well. But most of all, what I loved about the title was that one moment I was sitting there thinking this demon was a bit random. The idea of something evil that takes you away then steals all your stuff, and erases you from the life you lived was a bit silly. But by the end of the film, I was completely invested.

The Harbinger screened at 2022’s Fantasia Film Festival, which is where I was able to see it. It is well worth a rewatch if you’ve seen it already. The film was been picked up by XYZ Films and released to the public on December 1st, 2022.

Other titles with the pandemic at the center of the story are Keep You Distance | Stop and Go | Virus-32

For something with a psychological horror edge watch The Harbinger | House of Ashes or The Room next.

Directed and written by Andy Mitton.

The Harbinger cast

• Raymond Anthony Thomas
• Stephanie Roth Haberle
• Laura Heisler
• Emily Davis
• Gabby Beans

Harbinger Streaming Options

Watch the Harbinger movie 2023 on TUBITv in most countries. For more ways to watch, check the link below.

The Harbinger was provided as a screener as part of the Fantasia Film Festival 2022.

Harbinger 2023 is streaming on:

The Harbinger is rated

3.5 death bringers out of 5