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Comedy horror film

Harpoon (2019): Cast, Ratings & Plot

Harpoon (2019) movie poster

Harpoon is a 2019 comedy horror film directed by Rob Grant, starring Munro Chambers as Jonah, Emily Tyra and Brett Gelman. It runs 1 hour 23 minutes. Critics gave it 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and 65 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.9/10.

IMDb rating
5.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes
97%
Echo Score
68
Metascore
65
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Harpoon (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 23m (83 min)
Director
Rob Grant
Genres
Horror , Comedy
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Harpoon About?

The premise of Harpoon without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Three friends find themselves stranded on a yacht, their camaraderie tested by hidden agendas and rising tensions. As they struggle to navigate the dangerous waters and lack of escape, long-held secrets surface, leading to a darkly comedic and increasingly horrifying ordeal. They must confront their deepest fears and unravel the truth behind their predicament in this twisted and suspenseful story.

Harpoon Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • ocean
  • one word title
  • yacht
  • sexual tension
  • group of friends
  • friendship
  • friend
  • best friend
  • yachting
  • visit
  • sailing
  • visitor
+38 more
  • ship
  • boat
  • boat trip
  • reference to aristotle
  • quoting aristotle
  • aristotle quotation
  • voice over narration
  • black and white scene
  • box
  • photograph
  • framed photograph
  • long haired male
  • freeze frame
  • urn
  • orphan
  • debt
  • prostitute
  • camera shot of mouth
  • close up of mouth
  • f word
  • telephone call
  • anger issues
  • outburst
  • hysterical outburst
  • hysterical man
  • punched in the face
  • violence
  • violent man
  • boyfriend girlfriend relationship
  • class differences
  • nurse
  • retirement home
  • beating
  • beaten up
  • human ashes
  • covered in blood
  • blood
  • jealousy
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Cast & crew

Harpoon Cast & Characters

Munro Chambers leads the cast as Jonah, with Emily Tyra as Sasha and Brett Gelman as Narrator. Directed by Rob Grant; 4 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Rob Grant

More films directed by Rob Grant: This Too Shall Pass, This Too Shall Pass, Alive and Fake Blood.

Full filmography
Ratings

Harpoon Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Harpoon 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and 65 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 68/100, strongest in character & emotion (80) and weakest in rewatch factor (50).

68 /100

Harpoon Echo Score Breakdown

Harpoon delivers a tense and intermittently amusing thriller that leans heavily on its performances and sparse setting. While critics praised the leads for carrying the suspense and darkly comic tone, some observers found the premise unoriginal and the climax underwhelming. The direction and production values offer a distinctive albeit modest visual palette, and the twists maintain engagement. Ultimately, Harpoon stands as a serviceable genre entry with uneven depth but sufficient entertainment value.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 65

    In terms of art and craft, Harpoon employs a minimal yet effective production design and measured editing to sustain tension. The direction favors sparse compositions and occasional stylized flourishes, though some critics found these visual choices excessive. Cinematography captures the confined sea setting with clarity, while the modest budget constrains elaborate setups. Overall, the film’s craft is utilitarian but supports the narrative’s atmosphere.

  • Character & Emotion 80

    When it comes to character and emotion, the three leads deliver tenacious performances that anchor the film’s suspense and dark humor. Viewers noted the chemistry among the principals and the effective portrayal of internal conflicts. However, some found character depth lacking and emotional stakes underdeveloped, citing unlikable figures. Ultimately, the performances elevate the material despite uneven resonance with the audience.

  • Story & Flow 60

    In terms of story and flow, Harpoon presents a lean plot structured around a series of escalating twists and suspenseful beats. The pacing is economical, with an 82-minute runtime that sustains momentum. Critics and users praised the unexpected developments, though some remarked on the lack of originality in the stranded-at-sea premise and an unsatisfying conclusion. Overall, the narrative remains engaging yet familiar.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    In terms of sensory experience, the film’s sound design and score supply a steady undercurrent of tension punctuated by sudden jarring effects. The visual style blends a muted palette with sudden gore to heighten impact, though some reviewers found certain stylistic flourishes excessive. The cohesion between auditory and visual elements generally supports the dark comedic tone. Overall, the sensory approach is effective if occasionally uneven.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    When considering rewatch factor, Harpoon offers a brisk runtime and a series of twists that invite repeat viewings to catch subtle clues. The dark humor and suspenseful shifts retain some appeal, though the film’s limited character development and modest thematic depth may reduce its lasting resonance. As a result, it holds intermittent replay value primarily for genre enthusiasts rather than broader audiences.

Plot

Harpoon Plot Summary

What happens in Harpoon from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Jonah, an unlucky, down-and-out twenty-something, drifts through days marked more by bad luck than by any clear plan. He is bound up in a tense, fragile friendship with Richard, a wealthy man whose charm hides a volatile and controlling streak. One morning, the dynamic erupts in violence: Richard ambushes Jonah and beats him brutally, driven by a paranoid fear that Jonah has slept with his girlfriend, Sasha. Sasha arrives just in time to pull Richard away, explaining that the suspicious texts he found on her phone were not evidence of cheating but plans she and Jonah had hatched to buy him a speargun for his birthday.

Full summary

The whole story of Harpoon, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

Harpoon Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Harpoon.

Harpoon (2019) Official Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Harpoon?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What type of weapon does Richard first point at Jonah on the yacht?

Details

Harpoon Also Known As

7 alternative titles, including “작살” and “하푼: 딥 워터”.

Also known as
  • 작살
  • 하푼: 딥 워터
  • Arpão
  • Гарпун
  • 渔枪
  • Harpun
  • ハープーン 船上のレクイエム

Seen Harpoon?

FAQ

Harpoon FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of Harpoon, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Harpoon?

Harpoon runs 1 hour 23 minutes (83 minutes).

When was Harpoon released?

Harpoon was released on October 4, 2019.

Who directed Harpoon?

Harpoon was directed by Rob Grant.

More films by Rob Grant

Who is in the cast of Harpoon?

Harpoon stars Munro Chambers as Jonah, Emily Tyra as Sasha and Brett Gelman as Narrator, among 4 credited actors.

How is Harpoon rated?

Harpoon has 5.9/10 on IMDb, 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 65 on Metacritic and 61% on TMDB.

Does Harpoon have a post-credit scene?

No. Harpoon has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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