Harpoon (2019): Cast, Ratings & Plot
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.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 23m (83 min)
- Director
- Rob Grant
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Epic Pictures Group
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
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 Show fewer
- 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
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.
- Director Rob Grant
- Munro Chambers as Jonah
- Emily Tyra as Sasha
-
Brett Gelman as Narrator - Christopher Gray
More from Rob Grant
More films directed by Rob Grant: This Too Shall Pass, This Too Shall Pass, Alive and Fake Blood.
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).
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.
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IMDb 5.9 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 97% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 60%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 65 Metascore
User score 6.2
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 61% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.1 /5
4 ratings
See on Letterboxd
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
Harpoon Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Harpoon.
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What type of weapon does Richard first point at Jonah on the yacht?
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?
Movies Like Harpoon
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Open Water, Haunted Boat and Dead Water.
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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