Welcome fellow movie fans to my review of The Dark Secret Of Harvest Home 1978
The Story gets a 1.25 out of 2: I believe Dark Harvest being a TV Mini-series worked in the tales favour. It allowed the writers to infuse the narrative with a slow burn element. At the outset, you have what appears to be a lacklustre tale of a cult and its followers. There's nothing too outlandish mentioned in the first episode. However, the writers provide the audience with many unusual occurrences. One is the blind man waited on hand and foot by his wife and the other women of Harvest Home. All he's required to do is sit on his backside listening to books on cassette tapes (pre-Audible), all spookily read by Donald Pleasence, attend the town's celebrations and fetes. Next is the photo's Nick and Beth Constantine take. All of them show Widow Fortune, though they both swear she wasn't there. Third, are the rituals the townsfolk perform for the land and the corn, like The Choosing Of The Lord. The writers relate everything in such a subtle way that you don't realise an eerie feeling has crawled under your skin. Until the first episode ends, and you find you can't wait for episode two.
Because the series lasts for over three hours, it gave the writers great scope to infuse the latent horror of Harvest Home.
When the second episode begins, we see things are getting bleaker for Nick. The Widow has entwined herself and her beliefs into his wife and daughter. She's even predicting Beth will be with child soon.
Fortunately for the viewers, the writers were skilled in their work. The characters are well rounded and constructed thoroughly. Their skill helps to make "Stranger Things" become less extraordinary, leading to a chilling yet plausible conclusion.
But I don't want to sing the writers praises too loudly because many incidents niggled me with their implausibility. The primary one being the blind man, Robert Dodd. Many menfolk in Harvest Home hint about peculiar occurrences, but only Dodd is the outsider who married into the cult. As such, he shouldn't feel obliged to stay at Harvest Home. It's evident he's afraid, so why hasn't he done anything about it. He may be sightless, but that disability shouldn't stop him from formulating an escape plan. Luckily, these niggles are few and slight and were never enough to shift my attention away from the screen.
The Direction and Pace receive a 2 out of 4: Both direction and pace are average, which is predictable for a TV Mini-series from the 70s. I can only imagine how great Dark Secret's would have become had they employed a more imaginative director. Leo Penn isn't awful, but it could have been better.
The Performances get a 1.25 out of 2: Yep, it's Bette Davis as Widow Fortune who carries the series. Until I watched "The Nanny" I hadn't been much of a Davis fan. Evidently, I had been viewing the wrong movies. She excels as the determined and influential leader of Harvest Home. She accomplishes this by subtle twists. One moment she could be your best friend; all smiles and grandmotherly warmth. Next, she could be issuing a warning to you; all smiles and grandmotherly warmth. Then she may be twisting your family against you; all smiles and grandmotherly warmth. Ultimately, she may be inflicting pain and torture; all smiles and grandmotherly warmth. Though she performs everything in a similar fashion, it's her body and facial language that changes. Davis conveys this superbly and makes The Widow one of the nastiest Grandmotherly figures I've seen.
Though Davis is on top form, that doesn't belittle the other actors and actresses. In all truth, the rest of the cast are excellent in their portrayals. It's just that The Widow is such a domineering character.
The only week point I would say would be Rosanna Arquette as Kate. You could undoubtedly offer the excuse of it being early in her career. She's not a leading role in the series, so it didn't affect my overall enjoyment.
And my Enjoyment level hits a 1.25 out of 2: It was the gradual build-up to the conclusion and Bette Davis' performance that made Dark Secrets worth watching. I do enjoy a story that insinuates itself into your subconscious and festers there, plucking at your fears. If you appreciate such stories then Dark Secret is a Miniseries to seek out and enjoy. Who knows, I may even find myself revisiting Harvest Home sometime in the future.
These ratings give The Dark Secret Of Harvest Home a 5.75 out of 10: A better than average TV Miniseries that could have been great. Still worth one watch for all horror, paranormal, and macabre movie buffs.
Jump in your horse-drawn buggy and check out my Absolute Horror list to see where The Dark Secret Of Harvest Home gathered in my rankings.
Take Care and Stay Well and Get Inoculated.
The Story gets a 1.25 out of 2: I believe Dark Harvest being a TV Mini-series worked in the tales favour. It allowed the writers to infuse the narrative with a slow burn element. At the outset, you have what appears to be a lacklustre tale of a cult and its followers. There's nothing too outlandish mentioned in the first episode. However, the writers provide the audience with many unusual occurrences. One is the blind man waited on hand and foot by his wife and the other women of Harvest Home. All he's required to do is sit on his backside listening to books on cassette tapes (pre-Audible), all spookily read by Donald Pleasence, attend the town's celebrations and fetes. Next is the photo's Nick and Beth Constantine take. All of them show Widow Fortune, though they both swear she wasn't there. Third, are the rituals the townsfolk perform for the land and the corn, like The Choosing Of The Lord. The writers relate everything in such a subtle way that you don't realise an eerie feeling has crawled under your skin. Until the first episode ends, and you find you can't wait for episode two.
Because the series lasts for over three hours, it gave the writers great scope to infuse the latent horror of Harvest Home.
When the second episode begins, we see things are getting bleaker for Nick. The Widow has entwined herself and her beliefs into his wife and daughter. She's even predicting Beth will be with child soon.
Fortunately for the viewers, the writers were skilled in their work. The characters are well rounded and constructed thoroughly. Their skill helps to make "Stranger Things" become less extraordinary, leading to a chilling yet plausible conclusion.
But I don't want to sing the writers praises too loudly because many incidents niggled me with their implausibility. The primary one being the blind man, Robert Dodd. Many menfolk in Harvest Home hint about peculiar occurrences, but only Dodd is the outsider who married into the cult. As such, he shouldn't feel obliged to stay at Harvest Home. It's evident he's afraid, so why hasn't he done anything about it. He may be sightless, but that disability shouldn't stop him from formulating an escape plan. Luckily, these niggles are few and slight and were never enough to shift my attention away from the screen.
The Direction and Pace receive a 2 out of 4: Both direction and pace are average, which is predictable for a TV Mini-series from the 70s. I can only imagine how great Dark Secret's would have become had they employed a more imaginative director. Leo Penn isn't awful, but it could have been better.
The Performances get a 1.25 out of 2: Yep, it's Bette Davis as Widow Fortune who carries the series. Until I watched "The Nanny" I hadn't been much of a Davis fan. Evidently, I had been viewing the wrong movies. She excels as the determined and influential leader of Harvest Home. She accomplishes this by subtle twists. One moment she could be your best friend; all smiles and grandmotherly warmth. Next, she could be issuing a warning to you; all smiles and grandmotherly warmth. Then she may be twisting your family against you; all smiles and grandmotherly warmth. Ultimately, she may be inflicting pain and torture; all smiles and grandmotherly warmth. Though she performs everything in a similar fashion, it's her body and facial language that changes. Davis conveys this superbly and makes The Widow one of the nastiest Grandmotherly figures I've seen.
Though Davis is on top form, that doesn't belittle the other actors and actresses. In all truth, the rest of the cast are excellent in their portrayals. It's just that The Widow is such a domineering character.
The only week point I would say would be Rosanna Arquette as Kate. You could undoubtedly offer the excuse of it being early in her career. She's not a leading role in the series, so it didn't affect my overall enjoyment.
And my Enjoyment level hits a 1.25 out of 2: It was the gradual build-up to the conclusion and Bette Davis' performance that made Dark Secrets worth watching. I do enjoy a story that insinuates itself into your subconscious and festers there, plucking at your fears. If you appreciate such stories then Dark Secret is a Miniseries to seek out and enjoy. Who knows, I may even find myself revisiting Harvest Home sometime in the future.
These ratings give The Dark Secret Of Harvest Home a 5.75 out of 10: A better than average TV Miniseries that could have been great. Still worth one watch for all horror, paranormal, and macabre movie buffs.
Jump in your horse-drawn buggy and check out my Absolute Horror list to see where The Dark Secret Of Harvest Home gathered in my rankings.
Take Care and Stay Well and Get Inoculated.