In the Tall Grass (2019) Review

A small field of grass, swaying gently in the breeze, an innocuous backdrop that hides a labyrinthine nightmare – such is the premise of In the Tall Grass, a 2019 Netflix offering born from the chilling collaborative minds of Stephen King and Joe Hill. Helmed by director Vincenzo Natali, known for his propensity for weaving enigmatic tales with visual flair, this adaptation of King and Hill’s novella resonates with a mix of intrigue and frustration.

It seems as though Netflix has embraced a King-esque renaissance, serving up a plethora of adaptations to appease the ever-ravenous appetite of horror aficionados. And In the Tall Grass fits right into this resurgence, employing its rural Kansas setting and an innocuous stretch of grass to create an eerie tapestry where time itself becomes a twisted plaything.

The narrative’s core revolves around siblings Becky (Laysla De Oliveira) and Cal (Avery Whitted), who, on a road trip to San Diego, stumble upon the cries of a young boy named Tobin (Will Buie Jr.) emanating from within the tall grass that seems to stretch endlessly. This simple yet unnerving starting point launches the characters and the audience into a nightmarish maze where the rules of reality become as tangled as the blades of grass they navigate.

Natali, with his keen eye for creating atmosphere, paints the tall grass field as a character of its own. The disorienting visual trickery employed, coupled with aerial shots that emphasise the expanse and isolation, engender an unsettling ambiance. The rural Kansas backdrop, a departure from King’s usual Maine setting, further lends the film an alien quality – a seemingly mundane landscape warped into a portal of dread.

As the characters delve deeper into this verdant labyrinth, time and reality start to blur. Echoes of themes familiar to King fans reverberate through the grass, with the loss of loved ones, parental dilemmas, and the struggle against otherworldly malevolence taking center stage. The ensemble cast – anchored by horror stalwart Patrick Wilson plus Harrison Gilbertson, Oliveira, and Whitted – admirably strives to imbue these characters with depth, although at times the dialogue’s transition from page to screen feels slightly stilted.

Yet, the film’s strongest asset is its unraveling mystery. Much like the characters caught in the grass, viewers are swept up in a narrative current that defies linear understanding. Time loops, shifting perspectives, and eerie phenomena work in tandem to create a sense of ever-deepening intrigue. The film becomes an unsettling puzzle that draws you in, echoing the best of King’s works that evoke not just scares but an insatiable curiosity.

However, within this thicket of terror and promise, In the Tall Grass occasionally falters. The film’s tone struggles to find its equilibrium, vacillating between suspenseful horror and moments that inadvertently border on the absurd. Natali’s attempt to encapsulate the essence of King’s narrative voice sometimes leads to uneven pacing and tonal inconsistency. While the ambition is commendable, it does occasionally result in narrative stutter steps. This isn’t helped by the occasional plot-hole which can make the viewer’s confidence wobble and lead to disengagement.

A common criticism echoed through the tall grass of reviews is the film’s transition from a novella’s concise punch to a feature-length film. One can almost hear the echoes of hurried dialogue that serve to connect the dots, and in the process, character depth occasionally gets lost amidst the waving blades. Yet, it’s essential to note that even in its imperfect translation, the film retains an element of those twisted narrative strands that King so masterfully weaves.

In the Tall Grass might not be a perfect translation of the source material, but it bears the stamp of dedication from both its creators and its cast. Natali’s visual ingenuity encapsulates the eerie, otherworldly essence of King’s storytelling, while the ensemble endeavors to translate complex characters into a condensed format. Despite some narrative knots and uneven pacing, it succeeds in creating an immersive, enigmatic experience that dances on the fringes of surreal terror.

In the Tall Grass may not always stand tall, but it undeniably sways with a mesmerising rhythm that beckons viewers into its chilling embrace. Just as King’s works often delve into the unsettling depths of the human psyche, this film invites audiences to wade through a field of horrors, entwined with the echoes of an unsettling mystery that lingers on.

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