Director: Jon Keeyes
Cast: Matthew Tompkins, Arnold Vosloo, Michael Ironside
Production Company: Wolfclan Productions
Runtime: 111 minutes
Demons have tortured humanity since the beginning of time. These demons are often psychological in nature, not the result of malevolent spirits. Could both sides of this demonic coin actually exist? Might they somehow manifest within the same person?
The Harrowing (2018) presents us with the ominous possibilities…
The movie is directed by John Keeyes, who is also known for a few other independent horror films, including Doom Room (2018), Phobia (2013), and Fall Down Dead (2007). He’s at the top of his game with this project, delivering a truly captivating film.
In the movie, Detective Ryan Calhoun is tormented by the ritualistic killing of his partner. He decides to go undercover when his investigation leads to a forensic hospital. Once there, he must face down his own darkness and deal with the demons that come with it.
The Harrowing begins as a police drama, but soon deviates into much darker territory. It also provides us with a fascinating mystery, which slowly unravels over the course of the movie. These elements all work well together, like the ingredients in a satisfying stew.
Matthew Tompkins from Howlers (2018) does a fantastic job of expressing his emotional struggle, be it an internal or external one. Michael Ironside from Scanners (1981) portrays a hard-nosed police lieutenant named Logan. He’s perfect for the role.
Arnold Vosloo from The Mummy (1999) and Darkman III: Die Darkman Die (1996) is devilishly sinister as the evil Dr. Franklin Whitney. His performance is reminiscent of Christopher Lee’s work from the Hammer Films of the seventies.
The remaining cast is made up of a number of indie horror veterans…
Arianne Martin from Don’t Look in the Basement 2 (2015)
Damon Carney from Hellraiser: Judgment (2018)
Hayden Tweedie from Suburban Nightmare (2004)
Erin Marie Garrett from Knucklebones (2016)
John Walpole from Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich (2018)
Morgana Shaw from The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia (2013)
Michael Crabtree from The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
Susana Gibb from By the Devil’s Hands (2009)
James Cable from Radiant (2005)
Tom Zembrod from The Night Before (2017)
The movie has a lot going for it on a technical level too. Expert lighting, solid editing, and vibrant colour correction all make this film a pleasure to watch. The gore effects are very realistic, which goes hand in hand with this kind of gritty crime feature.
The Harrowing is an engaging crime thriller with a powerful taste for the paranormal. Let it inside your head, but remember to protect your soul…
– John Migliore
For more information on the film, check out the links below…
Movie Clip – The Demon Appears
Indie Horror Online 