Harper's Island Stars Christopher Gorham and Katie Cassidy
New CBS Show Takes a Stab at Primetime Horror
Apr 18, 2009
It would be nice if network television could produce a horror show with at least a little imagination. That appears to be easier said than done. Last year, NBC was behind the weak Fear Itself. Now CBS has made the slightly better but still conventional Harper's Island.
Seeking to combine elements of a slasher flick and murder mystery, the beginning of the show informs viewers that seven years ago six people were murdered by one John Wakefield. The killing spree happened on Harper's Island, 37 miles from Seattle.
Cut to the present. A big wedding party is getting ready to visit the island. Poor boy Henry (Ugly Betty's Christopher Gorham) is getting married to rich girl Trish (horror veteran Katie Cassidy, who appears in the Black Christmas and When a Stranger Calls remakes).
Someone gets killed early on, before the wedding party even leaves for the island on a pleasure cruise. Poor Cousin Ben finds himself chopped up by the boat's propeller.
Setting Up the Suspects
The first episode spends a lot of time introducing a ton of characters in a hurry. In addition to Henry and Trish, there is Henry's childhood best friend Abby (Elaine Cassidy), Trish's dad Thomas (Richard Burgi), Henry's troubled uncle Marty (Harry Hamlin), and Abby's old crush Jimmy (C.J. Thomason).
Since early on it is clear that someone is murdering people, most of the characters are presented as potential suspects. Marty has a gun and a large amount of cash. Thomas does not want his daughter marrying Henry. Trish's ex Hunter (Victor Webster) wants her back but seems potentially dangerous.
There is island tough guy Shane (Ben Cotton), who is angry and violent. Also, Henry's brother J.D. (Dean Chekvala) has a troubled past and dukes it out with Shane.
Finally, there is John Wakefield himself. Abby claims her dad, Sheriff Mills (Jim Beaver), shot and killed him. Others are not so sure.
Horror Cliches Everywhere
The biggest problem with Harper's Island is an over-reliance on horror cliches. There are plenty of boo scares, with people sneaking up on others and popping out of nowhere. To pound home the scares, the music is cranked for maximum impact. There is even a creepy little girl.
As with many horror movies, pretty people and catchy pop songs are everywhere. However, characters worth caring about are nowhere to be found. It doesn't help that the cast is enormous. With so many people getting screen time and so much time spent establishing potential suspects, there is no time for character development.
More Gore Than Expected
That's not to say Harper's Island is all bad. The British Columbia locations are stunning. Also, the cast is solid, breathing a little life into the one-dimensional characters. Elaine Cassidy is particularly good, and Deadwood's Beaver is always a welcome presence.
For genre fans there is a surprising amount of blood and gore. By the end of the second episode five people have been knocked off. The manner of death includes decapitation and getting cut in half.
Is Harper's Island Worth Watching?
A show like this needs to give viewers a reason to want to discover the killer's indentity and therefore tune in week after week. Harper's Island does not succeed in this department.
Forgiving horror fans starved for something to watch should be able to overlook the show's flaws and make it through to the conclusion. Everyone else will find it hard to care. Don't be surprised if this one doesn't make it a full season.
