Elizabeth Harvest

Directed by Sebastian Gutierrez, Elizabeth Harvest follows Abbey Lee’s Elizabeth as she arrives at her new husband’s (Ciarán Hinds’ Henry) expansive estate and is immediately told that she has the full run of the house except for one room – with the narrative detailing the violence that ensues after Elizabeth, perhaps inevitably, enters that room. It’s an intriguing premise that’s slowly-but-surely drained of its positive attributes by Gutierrez, as the filmmaker, working from his own screenplay, delivers an exceedingly (and excessively) deliberate drama that’s been suffused with a cold, emotionally-distant feel that prevents the viewer from wholeheartedly (or even partially) connecting to the material or characters – which, in turn, ensures that the myriad of twists and revelations held within the picture’s second half are entirely unable to pack the punch Gutierrez has clearly intended. The movie’s failure is especially disappointing given the strength of the performances and Gutierrez’s admittedly impressive (and ambitious) visual sensibilities, and there’s little doubt, ultimately, that Elizabeth Harvest could’ve benefited from a much more brisk (and much shorter) running time.

*1/2 out of ****