Written and Directed by Andy Mitton
Starring Emily Davis, Raymond Anthony Thomas, Stephanie Roth Haberle
Unrated
Runtime: 87 minutes
In theaters and on VOD December 1st

by Victoria Potenza, Staff Writer

Truly encapsulating the horrors of the pandemic is a hard thing to do. Many films have utilized the backdrop of the COVID pandemic as fruitful ground for their films. But most have failed in emulating how it felt to be in the pandemic. Those first few months when everyone was scared and no one knew what to do. We were still wiping down groceries, demanding six feet apart, and craving the human connections that we took for granted. It was a scary time that feels like it was just yesterday while also feeling like it was a lifetime ago.  The Harbinger, from director Andy Mitton, is one of the first movies that was able to distill the complex emotions and feelings that we dealt with, while also whipping up brand new horrors to make for a raw and chilling viewing experience. 

Andy Mitton’s 2018 film The Witch in the Window is a simple yet memorable viewing experience. Mitton created a simple yet effective horror film with several good scares, but at the same time, he also created a compelling family drama. Fans will be glad to know that the elements that make The Witch in the Window so memorable are also embedded in his new movie The Harbinger. Using those first few months of the pandemic as his backdrop, he takes the loneliness, isolation, depression, and anxiety of the time while adding his own creative flair. While the real world can be terrifying enough, especially at this period just a few years ago, Mitton asks what if there was a demon that went after those that were lonely? And what if their attempts to make connections put those they loved at risk? What if a demon fed off the hopelessness felt by so many and used that for their own entertainment? These ideas combined with real world horrors make this supernatural horror feel grounded and also possible. 

In creating his demon “Harbinger” who uses dreams to feed off the lonely, he adds to dream demon mythology like A Nightmare on Elm Street, while also adding in elements of many J-horror films. Many effective Japanese horror films delve into the idea of a curse that is contagious. Films like Ringu, Cure, and Ju-On all effectively use this idea while also making their stories unique and chilling in their own way. Mitton accomplishes the same in his indie films by using simple ideas that feed off of the existential fears we have as humans. Seasoned directors with much more money struggle to bring this creativity and innovation together yet it seems easy for someone like Mitton. His ability to write and shoot an effective yet creative horror drama that lingers in the mind long after viewing is quite the feet. 

One of the reasons this all comes together as well as it does is because of the characters. Mitton’s films usually feature characters we care about and feel an investment in. Spending time with them as they tell stories and care for one another is just as enjoyable and compelling as his horror elements. The relationship between Monique (Gabby Beans) and Mavis (Emily Davis) is central to the movie and watching how tender and caring these two people who are connected by a traumatic event years before is beautiful to watch. Their ability to be there for one another when everything else is falling apart is admirable. At the same time Monique’s relationship with her family is just as important and interesting. Gabby Beans adds so much to this character, making her feel like a fully flushed out, real person. Monique is someone you root for and someone you hope to have in your life. 

At the same time Mitton uses this to his advantage to make his horrors that much more effective. With the dream world and reality seamlessly flowing into each other at times it is easy for viewers to get disoriented and become uncertain of where they are. We want to trust what we are seeing but it is often hard to tell what is part of the real world, and what is part of Harbinger’s design. The simple yet effective use of the plague doctor mask makes him feel like the pandemic grim reaper, constantly in the shadows and ready to take those who are the most vulnerable. It is easy to settle in and think all is safe before some horror comes to shock you out of your seat. 

There is simplicity in Mitton’s writing, style, and even the score he creates. This makes it feel that much closer to home. These simple horrors could easily be let in if we make the wrong choice. Mitton’s story feels similar to the writing of Manga author Junji Ito who often takes simple or strange concepts and turns them into the stuff of nightmares. By playing on our desires to be loved, have connection, and for us to leave some mark on this world The Harbinger lingers in the mind making us question if this is real or simply part of our unconscious.