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Overall Rating : 4/10
Directed By : Brad Goodman
Justin Ament (Harvest of Fear)
Ryan Deal (Harvest of Fea)
Carrie Finklea (Harvest of Fear)
Supplied By : MTI Home Video
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : Dec. 14, 2005
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| PLOT Twenty Years ago the small coastal town of Devils Lake fell victim to a bizarre string of brutal murders. Deputy Jake Barker's parents were among the victims. As suddenly as the killings began, they stopped. Now it's happening again. Haunted by the memory of his murdered parents, Jake is determined to solve these killings no matter the consequence. |
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| THE REVIEW THE PATH OF EVIL, the sequel to HARVEST OF FEAR, is the latest release from MTI home video, and I have some really mixed opinions about the film. Our story picks up where the last film ended, when twenty years prior, several people in the town of Devil's Lake, fell victim to a killer known as "The Harvest Killer". The town's police officials captured the man whom they thought was the suspect in these crimes, a man by the name of James P. Carpenter. Carpenter swears his innocence on the account that he was framed, and now 20 years later after the first string of murders the murders begin happening again. With convicted killer Carpenter still behind bars, he seems to have been telling the truth all of these years. It is now up to suspended Deputy Jake Barker, whose Father(who was also a police officer) and Mother were killed by the so called "Harvest Killer" years prior, to solve the case. First things first, I never got the chance to see HARVEST OF FEAR, so my review here, will be solely on the sequel itself. With that said, I feel that the sequel did an ok job with introducing the story as well as it's character's to unknowing viewers. As far as the film's plot, I could be wrong but there may have already been films quite similar to this already... I just can't think of any right now. So that tells you that this film is not all too original on it's own. Quite possibly, my biggest complaint is, that the killer looks JUST like HALLOWEEN's Michael Myers! His movements and everything mimic him, and the mask is altered, but it is simply the closest you can get without infringing copyright laws. And even the framed killers last name is Carpenter, and as we all know, John Carpenter directed the original HALLOWEEN. Is this a coincidence? I think not. Ok, well despite all of that, the film's back story closely follows Jake Barker, whom was suspended from the force, after I think assault charges. He is also coping the loss of his Parents whom died at the hands of the killer, and of his Girlfriend Stacey. Jake drinks his problems away in hope of forgetting his troubles, until the murders begin again nearby. He sees this as the opportunity to avenge on the death of his parents and to stop at nothing. This is great to watch, but on some of the scene, like in which he is drinking, are rather dull and lacking of pace. The films plot it self seems a little too thin and simple, and like almost all horror flicks they try to throw you "the curve ball of obvious". By this I am meaning that for one period of time in the film they'll throw in one obvious thing about a character that will make you think he's guilty, only to throw it onto other character later. No matter how hard they try to fool the viewer with THE PATH OF EVIL, it is a little predictable, maybe a little too predictable, as I figured this one out before mid film. The acting, is really none too special, you really do not bond with any of the characters at all. The dialogue is sort of one dimensional and simple but sometimes it does add up to form some somewhat interesting seems. At the time of writing this, like I have mentioned, I have not seen this film's predecessor so I cannot judge it as a whole, but as far as THE PATH OF EVIL goes, I see it as being an average DTV effort with a few entertaining moments, nothing more. |
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| GORE
METER 4.5/10 Not as gory as it tries to be, we do have some dismembered body parts and a little splatter, but that's about it. |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 3.5/10 The score is just OK here, it doesn't really add or subtract from the film itself. |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM I am a little mixed here. I love Serial Killer themed movies, and a virtually never will pass one up. The film's story seem's one that of common sense, one that would't take much effort to plan out. Maybe it was rushed? The film did only take a year after the first to produce, and when I think about it, so did HALLOWEEN 5, only it did fair better. Perhaps what brings this film down a notch is the obvious gap in it's originally....and being a huge Michael Myers fan( The killer NOT Shrek, mind you) it was kind of disappointing to see such a clone. I recommend this only if you have seen the first one and/or curious. This will be released on Dec. 27, 2005. |
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