Dark Harvest (2016 film)


Dark Harvest is a 2016 Canadian thriller film written an directed by James Hutson as his directorial debut. The film stars Cheech Marin in his first marijuana film in 33 years. After success on the festival circuit, the film gained a distribution deal for 2018.

Production

Filmmaker James Hutson was inspired to create this film based upon his experiences acting in training films for his local police department. The role of Bernie was played by Hutson's acting teacher A. C. Peterson who at the time was recovering from hip surgery. The inclusion of a bear trap injuring the character of Bernie, allowed the film to take advantage of the limp resulting from Peterson's his healing hip, and became the "inciting incident" and thrust of the film.

Plot

On the eve of its becoming legal, a marijuana grower is murdered. His best friend Carter, against the advice of his mentor Ricardo, teams up with narcotics investigator Bernie to discover the reasons and find the killer.

Cast

Reception

The film received positive response from The Hollywood Reporter, praising Cheech Marin's stoic performance, and writing that "strong performances and compelling atmosphere make up for the overly convoluted plotting."

Awards & nominations