Harvesters (2001) Online

I'm a direct-to-video junkie, borderline crackwhore, and was thoroughly pleased by this no budget slasher. The producers had to animate cars for Christ's sake!! Most of the money was spent on the handful of actresses who went topless, although they couldn't persuade the most appealing, Jaime Kalman, to lose her top.

This is one of those "No Good Guy" films, as you can either choose between the evil lesbian's group of thugs or the deranged Cleaver Cannibals. Quite frankly, I rooted for the sexy sister duo of the cannibals. Words won't do Jaime Kalman justice, you have to see her to understand her beauty. She is truly ethereal.

There are better horrors on your rental shelf, but I have never seen a film that gets the most out of every penny used. A true delight for B-Rate crackwhores.

Finally, a horror movie without "good guys" that are nearly superhuman. There are two marshals, but they are merely human. No spoilers, but this is really a very good movie considering their entire budget was probably $13.85. For that little money, the acting is really rather good. Certainly far better than the acting on most TV series shows. The main thing to watch for, though, is Jaime Kalman. She is a classic beauty in the old Hollywood sense, and also possesses by far the best figure in the movie. She is not a bad actress, either, and her cat fight with the biker chick is classic. The rest of the actors and actresses are at least competent. Again, I would much rather watch this than 90210 or Charmed. The writing is also at least competent. Again, though, if you are male (or a female lover of feminine beauty), you will be astonished by Jaime Kalman. Why is she not much much more well known?

I'll waste no time and spare misunderstanding and start by saying this: This work is an INDEPENDENT FILM, not a Hollywood production. With that said, let it be known that all opinions and critiques that follow are based NOT on "Hollywood's Standard," but rather the appropriate Independent Film Standard.

Small town artist and Independent Film cult icon Don Dohler follows up his cinematic return ("Alien Rampage," or, "The Alien Factor 2: Alien Rampage") with his first project shot entirely on Digital Video. Based loosely off his 1987 horror/thriller, "Blood Massacre," "Harvesters" depicts the classic situation of two sets of baddies unwittingly pitted against each other.

This film (despite being shot on Digital Video, I will refer to this as a film) for all it is worth is a great effort and compared to most independent works, this work is something to be respected. For the resources at hand, director Joe Ripple and Don make do very well. Albeit the use of Computer Generated Imagery was over done, and a selection of the actors' performances was sub par, the film itself successfully puts the message of tension and conflict well enough. The physical make-up effects used were for the most part believable.

Although "Harvesters" may not be ready to go to Oscars or be penned in history's books as a great, it is still worthy of mention and of viewing, especially if you are an aspiring film maker.

I give this film a 6.5 out of 10.

This movie kicked ass!! It had everything a low budget horror flick should have. Blood, violence, gore, nudity, and an original plot. One thing that really got on my nerves was the constant use of CGI effects. I don't know if there budget was too low to afford the down and dirty effects. But on a positive note, the acting was very good. A couple of the characters actually brought a frightening edge to their performances. Anyway, I give this movie a 9. Watch it with a bowl of popcorn!

This movie is nothing but a roller coaster ride from start to finish. I can't believe that a film like this never made the theaters! The plot was good, the acting was great, and the special effects...THEY ROCK! Hot chicks, cool deaths, and kickin music make this film a must see! You got to get the DVD though, just for the behind the scenes documentary. Joe Ripple, Don Dohler and Sean Quinn put everything they had into this film, and it shows! You guys ROCK!

You will enjoy every cheesey second of this cinemagraphic tour-de-force! This movie has the best blood bath scene ever! Joe Ripple not only directs this masterpiece but also has a costarring role as a U.S. Marshal. There are special effects that you won't believe as well as an incredible surprise ending that will leave you stupified. Wake up if you don't have a DVD player and go get one today, because the special edition of this one of a kind film has a 30 minute documentary filled with interesting facts about the making of The Harveters, something I assure you, should not be missed! Lucas beware, CGI has a new master and it's name is Time Warp Films.

Watched it both on VHS & DVD! This is Don Dohler's best ever film and guaranteed to please his long time fans as well as new recruits. Joe Ripple deserves kudos for his directorial debut and should be motivated to do another film as quickly as possible. Here is hoping that Dohler and Ripple team up again to scare the "crap" out of us and make our "guts" churn with heart thumping mayhem! Don't miss this bloody epic!

(Spoilers) A criminal gang led by a tough Gulf War Vet lesbian (!) kidnaps a young woman hoping to use the home of her parents as a hideout not realizing that her family makes a living murdering people and harvesting their organs for transplants. The film was directed by Joe Ripple, but produced, written and photographed by cult film maker Don Dohler, the Ed Wood of Perry Hall, Maryland. (I don't necessarily mean that as an insult.) Dohler is most famous for 1977's "The Alien Factor," a film about a spaceship carrying an alien "zoo" which crashes on Earth. The film is bad alright, but it has a certain goofy charm as Dohler attempts to realize his expansive vision with the limited tools at hand.

"Harvesters" represents a comeback after sixteen years of cinematic inactivity. The premise is somewhat promising, but fails because it reaches only as high as the lowest common denominator. Although Dohler has learned much since 1977, the entire enterprise has dull, low- budget perfunctory feel to it. Everything is text, there is no subtext whatsoever. All of the dialogue exists only to forward the story, we are given nothing sly, witty or surprising. None of characters possess any inner light. This, sadly, is a wasted opportunity. Had the film makers told us the truth about the family prior to the arrival of the criminals, rather than just hinting at some vague something, we could have enjoyed the wait; anticipating the moment when the supposedly innocent middle class family would turn the tables on their captors. Imagine what Hitchcock could do with such a scenario. Dohler is no Hitchcock. Neither is Ripple.

On the plus side, the film, errr, video, does move along at a brisk pace. There is an occasional effective moment, like the totally gratuitous "bloodbath" scene, and the gruesome death of the U.S Marshal played by Joe Ripple. The script had problems, and some of the performances were substandard, but a little more care and professionalism in other areas might have compensated the weaknesses. (Think "Night of the Living Dead." That film suffered from some bad lines and a bad performance or two but it remains a true classic nonetheless.) The constant reliance on close-ups and mid-shots gives the cinematography a cramped, unappealing claustrophobic feel. The sets and clothing are also a problem. The house where the main action takes place is adequate, but it looks like the offices of the U.S. Marshals were filmed there too! Also, do U.S. Marshals go around on duty in jeans? Do they they split up when exploring a house which might contain criminals? I could go, but why bother.

Keep it up, Don. One of these days....

I work in a video store and this is by far the worst movie I have ever come across, and that is saying something! The horrible dialog wasn't helped by the acting, which was god awful, the story line was boring and seemed thrown together, the graphics were cheesy and the fight scenes MUST have been made up on the spot.

We follow the story of Frankie Falzone who, for some reason, is a lesbian. Its only brought up once and I think it was just an excuse to film in a strip club. She and her "gang" are on the run from a couple of the most inept U.S. Marshals in the history of the United States. Why you need five people to rob a liquor store I'll never know but...what ever. After hanging out in the woods for a while, and by woods I mean what looks like somebody's back yard, they carjack somebody and proceed with a home invasion, which they instantly screw up, never mind the fact that these people want to harvest their organs. After a stupid and gratuitous bath scene, everyone in the "gang" but Frankie is killed. Then there is some running down some paths in the woods. Then a lot of running down some paths in the woods. Frankie gets some of her things and tries to do some Rambo style traps which "of course" works. All of this leads up to a final horrible fight scene in which Frankie wins. She then hears some one crying and she finds a, as yet unseen, little girl who proceeds to stab her in the throat. The end.

I am willing to bet most of the equipment was borrowed for this film and the actors did it "for the experience". If I had to venture a guess I would say they had a budget of about $20 and spent it on beer.

Bottom line? See it if for no other reason than to say you saw the worst movie ever made.

I'm wondering why nobody has mentioned Pamela Mones' involvement with the film. As a woman screenwriter, the movie clearly shows the influence of her input into the character-driven film as well as the horror elements that Don Dohler is known for. To ignore the contribution of one of the writers downplays how this film got such favorable reviews compared with other Dohler films, especially regarding story structure and tightly scripted scenes. It would make an interesting project for some film student to compare Dohler's earlier works (and those since Havesters) to determine if gender in fact influences the medium of film.

I just have to say this was the first movie I learned of two people I have come to admire their work since first seeing them. One is Director Joe Ripple which I have seen all of his films since this one. I also began to admire Leanna Chamish one of the main actresses in this film whom I have also followed her career since. Both did a great job with this film and I certainly became a fan after seeing this film. I think its one of the best Independent films I have seen along with a lot of their other stuff. Joe Ripple has done an excellent job in the independent horror film scene and is certainly continuing to grow his following. He is truly a guy who is dedicated to making each of his films better and truly enjoys what he does. As well, Leanna Chamish who worked on this film with him continues to work with him getting better with each film she does as well. Both are real people who love the art of what they are doing beyond making a big name, or just big bucks for themselves. Truly if you watch a lot of the behind the scenes stuff in any of Ripple's movie one quickly learns what a giving and honestly nice guy he is. I for one would love the chance to work with him in a movie even if I just got killed off in a quick scene would certainly be worth it to me.