Upcoming movie Harvest (2024): Story, plot and cast

Genre: Drama, History

Runtime: 2h 11m

Release Date: 2024 (United States)

Language: English

Filming Locations: Oban, Scotland, UK

Production Companies: Sixteen Films, Louverture Films, The Match Factory

Director: Athina Rachel Tsangari

Writers: Joslyn Barnes , Jim Crace , Athina Rachel Tsangari

Story

The quiet life of a secluded English village is upended on the eve of a joyous harvest feast. A frightening sight greets the villagers as they prepare for a day of relaxation and celebration in the warm autumn sun: two menacing columns of smoke. One plume originates from a fire that has destroyed the landowner’s outbuildings, while the other one emerges from the wooded edge, indicating the presence of three enigmatic newcomers.

The villagers’ mistrust turns into paranoia as they struggle with the shock of the fire and the intrusion of strangers. The community’s fears are heightened by the sight of the smoke and the enigmatic and unsettling presence of the newcomers. The villagers’ sense of security and unity is upset by the arrival of these outsiders, and their once tranquil lives become a volatile mixture of mistrust and anxiety.

One of the newcomers, a silent observer holding a sketchbook, seems to be more than just a bystander in the middle of all this chaos. His detailed observations and maps of the area point to a plan that jeopardizes the foundation of village life. The villagers become split as rumors circulate and hostilities rise, with some viewing the newcomers as potential allies and others as messengers of change.

The narrative unravels as the villagers’ misgivings escalate into accusations, laying the groundwork for a potentially disastrous confrontation. The once-cohered community is forced to face its deepest prejudices and fears as time goes on, making it harder to distinguish between reality and perception.

“Harvest,” directed by Athina Rachel Tsangari, delves into themes of uncertainty, fear, and the effects of change on a close-knit community. The villagers’ reactions, as they try to make sense of what is happening, highlight the brittleness of human trust and the ease with which fear can topple even the most established societies.

Plot Summary

A remote English village’s residents wake up on the morning following harvest, eager for a well-earned day of relaxation and feasting at their landowner’s table. But when two pronounced columns of smoke appear in the sky, their hopes are dashed, and pleasant anticipation is replaced with fear and suspicion.

An overnight fire that damaged the master’s outbuildings has resulted in one smoke column. The second column, sent up to announce their presence, rises from the village’s forested edge. The suspicious villagers begin to feel more and more afraid because they do not think it is possible that these things just happened by coincidence.

Tensions rise as the villagers start to confront the newcomers. The presence of another outsider, who has been observed making detailed notes and drawings of the land, further complicates the situation. The most fear is sparked by this newcomer’s actions because they have the potential to completely upend the village’s way of life.

Cast

Caleb Landry Jones as Walt

Harry Melling as Kent

Frank Dillane as Jordan

Grace Jabbari as Alice Carr

Arinzé Kene as Quill

Rosy McEwen as Kitty Gosse

Thalissa Teixeira as Mistress Beldam

Stephen McMillan as Brooker Higgs

Mitchell Robertson as Christopher Derby

Emma Hindle as Anne Rogers