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“A grief-stricken sailor answers a mysterious call from the sea.“
Directed by Fredrik S. Hana, who co-wrote the script with Marius Lunde, the short horror film “Autumn Harvest” seems to be inspired by Norwegian folklore and legends. It opens with the heavy sound of waves and a somber shot of the sea on a windy day, with the camera slowly panning to a man who is likely grieving the loss of a loved one. What unfolds next is a frenzied, haunting tale of a crazed sailor driven to heinous acts of violence.
About seventeen minutes long, “Autumn Harvest” has a very cult-like tone, even though it features only one protagonist. The black-and-white cinematography lends the film a stark, eerie mood, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats, wondering where the story is headed. The background music, often reminiscent of an 80s thriller, contrasts with the short film’s timeless gothic atmosphere, where the gloomy Norwegian shore occupies much of the screen time. The vast, angry sea itself serves as a minor antagonist.
Is the sailor haunted? Or is he simply a sadistic serial killer? Or has he struck some horrendous deal with a sea devil? One particular scene made me think of an interesting theory: this is a horrifying antithesis of the Little Mermaid tale, where a human sailor strikes a deal with a siren to turn him into a merman if he sacrifices his humanity by making human sacrifices. The dead bodies are his “harvest” offering to the devil.
I liked the fact that the creators leave “Autumn Harvest” open-ended, but can also be frustratingly cryptic for many viewers for the same reason. Regardless, it’s a gritty little horror movie.
You can watch the film on Alter’s YouTube channel.
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