Harbinger Down (2015, 'The Thing' influenced horror)

[SymbioticFunction]

Heard this film first mentioned (but without the title) in the North America part of the forum in a The Thing thread. Couldn't find a movie thread when I searched. According to wikipedia, it's the most successfully funded sci-fi/horror project in kickstarter History.

Trailer:

Harbinger Down Official Trailer - YouTube

I do enjoy the 2011 Thing prequel but think it would have been a BIG improvement if the studio hadn't pushed for an emphasis on rather so-so cgi over practical effects. And also if the film had been allowed to have a slower pacing.

Harbinger Down will have fully practical effects by the team that were working on The Thing prequel. This review of that 2011 film (that also briefly discusses the upcoming Harbinger Down film) very accurately covers exactly how I feel about both projects:

The Thing 2011 - Horror Review - YouTube

When I looked at imdb, the Harbinger Down message board was sadly pretty darn empty so I heavily suspect that this new film will (unfortunately) be an instant cult classic but not a financial success.

[L.J.]

Sign me up this looks good.

[Michael1989]

Love me some practical effects. Looks pretty decent

[lolwut]

After reading the Kickstarter I have a lot more interest. They have an Oscar winning effects crew. I will definitely support this by buying it, even if it's just out of principle. Today's CGI monsters just aren't as realistic looking as the ones from Alien, Aliens, The Thing, Jurassic Park, etc.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...eature-fx-film

If you guys want another modern practical horror film check out Feast.

[SymbioticFunction]

Thanks for the kickstarter link - was very interesting to read. Especially this part:

"Harbinger Down is our homage to the films that put this art on the map. Having said that, this is a contemporary film, so we'd be foolish not to take advantage of the latest digital tools. Shooting digitally saves money. We'll also use digital tools to help our animatronics look better. Rod/Rig removal and compositing of miniature puppets are acceptable uses of digital. Other appropriate uses of digital would be adding breath vapor, snow fall, compositing skies, etc. But please allow me to repeat: There will be NO digitally animated Creatures in this film."

My understanding is that the 2011 Thing film was originally meant to be filmed like that, with practical effects being augmented only by cgi. I think that this low-budget project will show what that film could have been if meddling Universal studio executives hadn't gotten involved and screwed it up. That this film's special effects are being created at Alec Gillis' and Tom Woodruff Jr's own expense shows what a labour of love, Harbinger Down truly is.

[SymbioticFunction]

Short behind-the-scenes videos:

Harbinger Down Behind the Scenes - Part One - YouTube

Harbinger Down Teaser Behind the Scenes - Part Two - YouTube

Harbinger Down Behind the Scenes - Part Three - YouTube

[Mr.Twinks]

This looks great and I like all of the people that are involved! I say bring on more creature features like this!

[SymbioticFunction]

Would thank all of your posts but my quota has run out.

This film looks like the Cold Fear video game fused together with The Thing. A ship is an especially good setting for a horror film.

Hopefully Alec Gillis will be a good director on his first feature film. Really looking forward to checking this out later this year.

[RodChester]

Been looking forward to seeing this for awhile now. From their last update it looks like we won't be getting the bluray release of this until November of this year. I missed out on the Kickstarter so I hope everything on the Kickstarter blu will be on the regular releases well.

[Socko]

Harbinger Down is coming to Theaters in US and Canada on August 7, 2015.
VOD rel is Aug 7.
DVD is Sept 1.

I thought the VOD was also on Sept 1. I guess I was wrong.

Definitely a blind buy for me.

[Vlad Draculi]

I'll see it in theaters if it shows in mine.

[RodChester]

Looks like this won't be getting a bluray release for the general public after all.

From Studio ADIs Facebook page:

There has been alot of talk and i've been receiving ALOT of inbox messages regarding if Harbinger Down will be available in Blu-ray sales for the general public?

First off the Kickstarter backers will be receiving their Blu-rays they will be sent out around the same time as the DVD's will (Sept 1st).
So studioADI will fulfill the Kickstarter promise! like emoticon

With that said Vertical Entertainment (the distributor) will not be producing Blu-rays for sale to the general public.
It's sad it really is!!

BUT you can make your voice heard and reach out to them and let them know Harbinger Down should be released in Blu-Ray for the general public.
A practical effects film like this will only shine more on that format. like emoticon
Please feel free to write on their Facebook wall or send them a PM (personal message) on their Official Page.

HERE ➨ facebook.com/VertEnt

So it looks like Kickstarter was the only way to get a bluray. It's too bad because I was really looking forward to having a copy of this film.

If anyone was a backer and gets a bluray copy of this film and decides they don't want it, I'd be glad to take it off their hands for a fair price.

[SymbioticFunction]

Originally Posted by RodChester

Looks like this won't be getting a bluray release for the general public after all.

So it looks like Kickstarter was the only way to get a bluray. It's too bad because I was really looking forward to having a copy of this film.

What a let-down.

[RodChester]

Originally Posted by SymbioticFunction

What a let-down.

It really is. Especially since all the work on producing a disc has been done for the Kickstarter rewards. The only cost for the distributor would be pressing the discs and cover art. Even doing a limited run and selling directly from their site for like $25 would lead to a decent amount of profit.

[levcore]

The movie itself is a let down. Lots of practical FX which are slathered in CG which was the kind of thing i thought they were trying to avoid. The creature design is also very unimaginative and the script very by the numbers. I could have forgiven the script if the creature FX were amazing but they are sadly not, i was really rooting for this too.

[RodChester]

Originally Posted by levcore

The movie itself is a let down. Lots of practical FX which are slathered in CG which was the kind of thing i thought they were trying to avoid. The creature design is also very unimaginative and the script very by the numbers. I could have forgiven the script if the creature FX were amazing but they are sadly not, i was really rooting for this too.

Yeah, that seems to be the general consensus from the majority of reviews that I have seen. Still, I'd like to own a bluray to see the film and watch the behind the scenes material which is supposed to be pretty significant.

[Bullseye]

Originally Posted by levcore

The movie itself is a let down. Lots of practical FX which are slathered in CG which was the kind of thing i thought they were trying to avoid. The creature design is also very unimaginative and the script very by the numbers. I could have forgiven the script if the creature FX were amazing but they are sadly not, i was really rooting for this too.

Agreed. Was really looking forward to this and felt let down by the really bad CGi and not up to standard practical FX which one would expect from ADi.

[Chaotic]

I guess you know when you know a movie will have a lot og CGI if the filmmakers says the movie will have practical effects. Same thing happened with The Thing 2011 and Jurassic World.

[lolwut]

Krampus looks to have a lot of practical effects, so at least there's that to look forward to.

[Chaotic]

Originally Posted by lolwut

Krampus looks to have a lot of practical effects, so at least there's that to look forward to.

Hopefully Universal doesn't pull a Thing and Jurassic World with that.