Dark Harvest Gives Us A New Horror Icon In Sawtooth Jack
Set on Halloween in 1963, the terrifying legend Sawtooth Jack rises from the cornfield to wreak havok on a small Midwestern town in Dark Harvest, based on the book by Norman Partridge. Groups of boys are primed to fight the murderous pumpkin-headed scarecrow in a Hunger Games-style showdown before midnight, with promises of a feast, a new car, and money for their family for whoever kills the creature. The year prior, Richie Shepard’s brother Jim, a popular jock, won and finally got a one way ticket out of their town. Motivated by his brother, the rebellious outcast wants to join the Run too.
Casey Likes, who is currently starring as Marty McFly in Back to the Future on Broadway, leads this film with heart and determination, opposite Emyri Crutchfield who adds fuel to the fire to break the rules and start a new life together. Sawtooth Jack is about to be your new favorite villain. He is terrifying and almost alien like in his design with a creative thirst for blood that will give even Chucky a run for his money. Director David Slade doesn’t shy away from the violence and bloodshed with manglings that will shock you and LITERAL waves of blood. Hands down, some of the best gore of the year — and it’s not just Jack that’s bringing the horror either. Reminiscent of The Purge, you really get to see how this annual event causes the people of this town to lose it as well. Perhaps what’s scarier than even Jack is society’s reliance on blindly following traditions because “that’s what we’ve always done” — even if they don’t make sense or don’t really work. The twist of the film is fairly easy to call once you know the full synopsis, so it’s best to go in with as little information as possible to get the full experience.
The cinematographer and production design team did a stunning job bringing the vintage feel of the ‘60s to the screen and I loved the choice to take advantage of jostling camera movements to heighten the fear. Despite the delay on releasing this project by Slade, this is a film that should’ve gone to theaters, especially with the rise in success for original horror IP. With both bloodlust and surprising layers, Sawtooth Jack is a new horror icon worthy of the title. If anything, I wish we got to know even more about this town’s sick traditions.
Dark Harvest hits VOD on October 13, just in time for Halloween.
