Strange Harvest is a high contender for one of the best horror movies during this revitalizing period of the horror genre. The way fiction and non-fiction are blended in this mockumentary horror is extremely well done. This film is an edge-of-your-seat thriller, with all of the gore and suspense a classic horror film should have. Strange Harvest, written and directed by Stuart Ortiz, follows detectives Joe Kirby (Peter Zizzo) and Alexis ‘Lexi’ Taylor (Terri Apple) on a race against time to hunt a serial killer who calls himself “Mr. Shiny.” His first string of murders happened years ago, but with his return comes his connection to something dark and sinister.

The film opens with a narration from Det. Kirby, accompanied by a “viewer discretion advised” warning, immediately evokes a documentary feel. The film never loses its documentary feel, thanks to the way it was shot. A large amount of footage is displayed through body cam footage and recordings from either a phone or a laptop, which adds the level of realism necessary to make the film believable. Additionally, the testimonies from people connected to the crimes, plus the news scenes, help the film maintain a layer of realism throughout the entire film. The fact that it is so believable as a documentary is part of what makes this film so scary.

Mr. Shiny is also extremely frightening. It seems as though there are no details left unsaid regarding the crimes he committed. One of the particularly horrifying aspects about him was the letters he would send to the detectives. His letters have a level of eeriness to them that gets hard to shake while you watch. There was always a part of the letter that needed deciphering, which only added to the strangeness that is Mr.Shiny. But the fact that you could not quite figure out what he meant is what keeps you hooked as you try to decipher his letters and solve the crime along with the detectives, as if you are also on the case.

The cosmic aspect of the story could have been an interesting turn. However, there is not enough time in the film to go just a little more in-depth on the possible meanings of the cosmic phenomena that transpire in proportion to the Mr Shiny serial murders. Questions about the cosmic aspect do not really come up until the final few minutes of the film, so it brought up more questions about Mr. Shiny’s goals and how they connected to the cosmic situations. Nonetheless, the confusion surrounding the cosmic phenomena is a part of the mystery of the film, as Det. Kirby and Taylor both have conflicting views on what it could have all meant. So it could have been intentionally vague.

Score: 4 out of 5 stars

The mockumentary style of Strange Harvest has a level of horror reminiscent of the beloved 1999 cult classic, The Blair Witch Project. Its usage of police body cam footage is similar to the found footage style that The Blair Witch Project redefined. The mystery of Mr. Shiny, who he is and what his goals are, really keeps you locked in to the film and creates the feeling that you just have to know who he is. 2025 has been a great year for horror. From Sinners, to Weapons, and HIM, Strange Harvest has earned its spot on that list as well.