Can't Come Out to Play (aka Harvest) is a rather unsatisfying movie. The initial situation is intriguing, but as it progresses the "Why, why why?" response kicks in.
With Peter Fonda in the cast I expected something a bit more Machiavellian, and it could have gone that way. However admittedly that route would not have satisfied the 'Horror' label it lays claim to. What was incredibly hard to swallow was Maryann's grandparents' immediate dismissal of her pleas and concerns. You would expect them, under the circumstances of her having to come to live with them, to be more indulgent and not less. This would be the point at which Grandad - Peter Fonda - could have become more involved in some kind of psychological chess game with Katherine (Samantha Morton). Instead, Fonda gets about six lines in the film, one of which - "Follow your heart" - is the kind of disappointing cliché so utterly useless to a child whose life might well be in danger. I don't know if the story comes from a book - in which case, I can't blame the film - but I have wonderful visions of another, different film.
Anyway, there are some impressive performances in this film, Samantha Morton most notable, but also Michael Shannon, the long- suffering husband, who manages to get through the entire movie without cracking a smile. In securing the affections of Sandra (Meadow Williams) he is punching well above his weight, which shows that he might have more verve than you think.
Already mentioned in another review is the discrepancy in the two boys' ages, which can only be reconciled if the real son has remained in an arrested state of development by becoming bed bound, and ventilated, drip fed and over medicated for some time. A mistake like this is hard to believe, which makes me wonder if there is something we the audience have failed to understand.
As is the habit of fantasy thrillers, there are several points in the story at which the more pragmatic among us will be shouting, "Call the police!" or "Just call social services!". But of course it's not a documentary. And yet it needs just a little more to tip the scales, i.e. 'no one will believe me/is around because {reason} so I have NO choice but to do it myself'. And it's so much for an orphan schoolgirl to take on.
So I give it a 6 for keeping me, and my generally unimpressible son, engaged for an hour and holding back until the point of incredulity the inevitable introduction of jokes. Like the closing scene where Andy surely "has become a major league baseball player!"
With Peter Fonda in the cast I expected something a bit more Machiavellian, and it could have gone that way. However admittedly that route would not have satisfied the 'Horror' label it lays claim to. What was incredibly hard to swallow was Maryann's grandparents' immediate dismissal of her pleas and concerns. You would expect them, under the circumstances of her having to come to live with them, to be more indulgent and not less. This would be the point at which Grandad - Peter Fonda - could have become more involved in some kind of psychological chess game with Katherine (Samantha Morton). Instead, Fonda gets about six lines in the film, one of which - "Follow your heart" - is the kind of disappointing cliché so utterly useless to a child whose life might well be in danger. I don't know if the story comes from a book - in which case, I can't blame the film - but I have wonderful visions of another, different film.
Anyway, there are some impressive performances in this film, Samantha Morton most notable, but also Michael Shannon, the long- suffering husband, who manages to get through the entire movie without cracking a smile. In securing the affections of Sandra (Meadow Williams) he is punching well above his weight, which shows that he might have more verve than you think.
Already mentioned in another review is the discrepancy in the two boys' ages, which can only be reconciled if the real son has remained in an arrested state of development by becoming bed bound, and ventilated, drip fed and over medicated for some time. A mistake like this is hard to believe, which makes me wonder if there is something we the audience have failed to understand.
As is the habit of fantasy thrillers, there are several points in the story at which the more pragmatic among us will be shouting, "Call the police!" or "Just call social services!". But of course it's not a documentary. And yet it needs just a little more to tip the scales, i.e. 'no one will believe me/is around because {reason} so I have NO choice but to do it myself'. And it's so much for an orphan schoolgirl to take on.
So I give it a 6 for keeping me, and my generally unimpressible son, engaged for an hour and holding back until the point of incredulity the inevitable introduction of jokes. Like the closing scene where Andy surely "has become a major league baseball player!"