Harbinger

The opening of a deranged killer attacking a woman, ripping her gut open, then shot by police only for him to chant some words to a machine, may have an idea where this is going.

Seems that Julia (Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott) was living with serial killer Decker (Peter Woodward) quite ignorant that he had murdered six other women before turning his attention to her.

Five years later, this is all good fodder for Mike (Gary Webster) who has his own show ‘Spectre Investigates’ looking into uncanny events. He makes Julia a very good financial offer to return to the house and relive the trauma of the attack.
He’s supported by husband and wife Barney and April (Joseph Emms and Maisie Gee respectively), Kathryn (Anna Arthur), psychic Neal (Tony Sands) and supernatural expert Chris (Johnny Palmiero).

The house has been abandoned and is ready for clearance yet there are still relics of the past with paintings and other paraphernalia. The main one being a fortune teller machine called the Harbinger. Enclosed in the box is a what could be a throwback to 80’s metal band Crimson Glory before they took the metal masks off.

It’s not long before the psychic begins to pick things up and they decide to test the Harbinger. Each person pulls a card, which is pertinent to them and their situation. From there things begin to get out of hand as Decker’s true motives become clear and that he’s not done yet.

Directed by James Crow, (from a script by Harry Boxley and Simon Cluett), Harbinger is disappointing. The pace is pedestrian with very little tension or dread which means it doesn’t really get going even as it builds up to the climax.
It’s not helped that soul transference is an old horror chestnut, and with so many other films having used the same title it appears uninspired.

Another issue is the colour palate. The red, blue and pink hues used for some of the interiors are overpowering and do little if anything for those scenes.

The actors generally do well with the material though Webster doesn’t seem to be able to decide whether his tongue is in his cheek. Woodward makes for an annoying rather than disturbing killer playing it completely over the top. Regarding the Harbinger itself, its pot belly does it no favours as a portent of terror.

Harbinger will be on UK digital 10 August and US digital 11 August 2026 from Miracle Media.