Harper's Island: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 55 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	Your Score
7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 55 Ratings

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Harper's Island

Now Playing: Harper's Island

Season Details & Credits

CBS | Season Premiere Date: April 9, 2009

Starring: Jim Beaver, Christopher Gorham, Cameron Richardson

Summary: A group of friends at Harper's Island for a wedding are slowly being murdered one by one.

Creator: Ari Schlossberg

Genre(s): Drama, Suspense

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E13. Sigh
Air Date: July 11, 2009
tbd
S1:E12. Gasp
Air Date: July 11, 2009
tbd
S1:E11. Splash
Air Date: June 27, 2009

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Glenn Garvin

That single season will be hellacious fun. Stuffed with visual puns and sly homages to horror movies from Jaws to Poltergeist, Harper's Island relentlessly mocks film grammar with set pieces that take off in unexpected directions. Read full review

David Hinckley

Harper's Island is an elaborate horror movie, a twentysomething slasher flick with a really good wardrobe, a first-rate cast and 13 weeks worth of twists and subplots. Read full review

Verne Gay

What a hoot. What a ridiculous, soap-operatic cutup of a series. But if you can stop giggling long enough, as I managed to--quite a feat, let me tell you--Harper's Island is also hugely enjoyable. Read full review

Linda Stasi

It's written like a dopey daytime soap, it basically makes no sense, but it sure is silly good fun. Read full review

Jonathan Storm

Part soap opera, part horror movie, all whodunit, Harper's is diverting, and only infrequently frightening, fantasy soap opera. Read full review

Ken Tucker

R-rated horror flicks have rendered the scariness of Harper's abrupt murders mild stuff; the series could have used more of Christie's tight plotting. Read full review

Daniel Carlson

Ultimately, the series commits the greatest sin of the thriller genre: It's boring. Read full review

SEE ALL 22 REVIEWS

User Score

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7.3

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User Reviews

mathmike

Jul 9, 2012

This show amazed me when I watched it. I like the idea of people in a show being killed off one by one until it's just the killer and one person left. Unfortunately I can't seem to find many shows that can do it as well as this show did. I found the acting to be fine. The special effectsThis show amazed me when I watched it. I like the idea of people in a show being killed off one by one until it's just the killer and one person left. Unfortunately I can't seem to find many shows that can do it as well as this show did. I found the acting to be fine. The special effects were nothing special but they weren't bad. Also, it didn't go for very long. Now, if you're reading this you may be thinking "Then why did he rate it 10?", well, because the character development was amazing and there was a plot twist that most people wouldn't have seen coming. After finishing the finale I think my mouth was open (okay I'm kind of exaggerating but whatever). I'm not entirely sure why but I am left with extremely fond memories of this show and in the end isn't that what really counts? I know it's not a professional review but I loved it and I can't entirely explain all the reasons. Now you might be thinking "Why did he type this if he couldn't completely explain it?", well, SHUT UP!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JuditL

Sep 3, 2009

I'm Spanish, but I like the opinions of this site, so I must put my vote here. In my opinion, Harper's Island is a great TV series. The ending is surprising, because you don't expect that. I really liked it. I want more series like this!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Oct 17, 2009

A homage to the horror genre, i didn't start watching till a few episodes in but after that i was completely engaged with it, references to many different horror movies, well acted despite some people negative reviews all in all a good show, shame its over.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

katel.

Apr 10, 2009

I pretty much agree with what the person before me said. my only complaint is that a lot of the times it's not so much cheesy as it is it feels like a soap opera almost, but that might be because it's lower budget. I thought the two deaths in the first episode were actually pretty I pretty much agree with what the person before me said. my only complaint is that a lot of the times it's not so much cheesy as it is it feels like a soap opera almost, but that might be because it's lower budget. I thought the two deaths in the first episode were actually pretty good. they were creative, but yeah, it wasn't as in your face as supernatural or other shows like that. and the only other problem is that even though it's cool that one character dies off each episode, we're so used to more people dying in an hour as in slasher films, that sometimes it can feel like there's not enough happening. that and i'm not really so curious as to who the killer is, as to guessing which stereotype is going to die next. (And I like to think that the show purposely indulges in all the slasher cliches because it makes it more entertaining, kind of a wink and a nod to the audience. But i don't want people to think this is like watching Friday the 13th or anything (even though that was a terrible movie)--it's still really entertaining though.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

LeonardoAmato

Jan 7, 2018

Despite the predictable ending, "Harper Island" is a linear story with good performances overall and good story twists. The absence of plot holes and the fact that it actually gives you all the answers that you need, makes it the best slasher show around.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Tss5078

Feb 22, 2013

Harper's Island was a Mini-Series on CBS in the summer of 2009. Had it been in a decent time slot or debuted in the fall, this would have been a huge franchise. Instead this unique and exciting show was buried due to bad ratings. Harper's Island is a small island off the coast of WashingtonHarper's Island was a Mini-Series on CBS in the summer of 2009. Had it been in a decent time slot or debuted in the fall, this would have been a huge franchise. Instead this unique and exciting show was buried due to bad ratings. Harper's Island is a small island off the coast of Washington state, where rich people come to vacation, a small fishing village exists, and it was the home to a serial killer. 7 years earlier, John Wakefield killed 6 people on Harper's Island including Abby's mother. Now she is returning home for the first in 7 years for the wedding of her best friend. Harper's Island is back to normal, Wakefield is long dead, and all that remains are memories...Until people start dying again. The show is terrific, full of twists and turns and all kinds of things you won't see coming. I love shows that keep you guessing and make you think, however the one drawback of this show is that it was in fact designed as a mini-series. There is so much good stuff here, but they only have 13 hours to tell the story, so a lot of it is rushed and at points it feels like you're watching a soap opera. I wish the network saw the potential and took this gem and made it into a series, but they didn't. Harper's Island is hardly remembered now, 4 years later, but it was a show that was clever, fast-paced, and adored by its fans. The true killer of Harper's Island is Nielsen, as once again the ratings killed a gem in the making.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AlanH.

Apr 10, 2009

Oh Please! The acting is poor and the plot so telegraphs itself that I wanted to turn it off inside the first 10-minute segment. This despite the heavy dose of spooky "whodunnit" presented in the overdose of commercials aired over the past few weeks. If the show is to continue even two more Oh Please! The acting is poor and the plot so telegraphs itself that I wanted to turn it off inside the first 10-minute segment. This despite the heavy dose of spooky "whodunnit" presented in the overdose of commercials aired over the past few weeks. If the show is to continue even two more weeks along this track, please cancel it!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

SEE ALL 15 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

63

Series Overview
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: April 9, 2009
Season 1

63
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: April 9, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E13. Sigh
  Air Date: July 11, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E12. Gasp
  Air Date: July 11, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E11. Splash
  Air Date: June 27, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E10. Snap
  Air Date: June 20, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E9. Seep
  Air Date: June 13, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E8. Gurgle
  Air Date: June 6, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E7. Thrack, Splat, Sizzle
  Air Date: May 30, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E6. Sploosh
  Air Date: May 23, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E5. Thwack
  Air Date: May 9, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E4. Bang
  Air Date: May 2, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E3. Ka-Blam
  Air Date: April 23, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E2. Crackle
  Air Date: April 16, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E1. Whap
  Air Date: April 9, 2009