In the Tall Grass is a horror movie based on a novel by Stephen King and Joe Hill with the same title. The movie had its premiere at the Fantastic Fest on September 20, 2019, and Netflix released it globally on the same year through their streaming platform. Patrick Wilson, who played Ed Warren in The Conjuring franchise, starred in the movie as Ross Humboldt. He portrayed a rough dad and a mysterious character due to a supernatural force that controlled him to do evil and cruel things.
The movie revolves around Becky Demuth, who is pregnant and traveling to San Diego with her brother Cal Demuth. On their way, they stop at a church because Becky feels nauseous. While they want to continue their journey, they hear a little boy’s voice screaming for help from the tall and dense grass field. They enter the field to help the boy, but surprisingly, Becky and Cal are separated after passing through a path in the grass. They try to find a way out together, but the high condition of the grass field makes it challenging.
During their search, Becky meets Ross Humboldt, Tobin’s dad, the little boy who cried for help. Ross invites her to find Cal while looking for Tobin and their way home. After going through a long journey until nightfall, Becky loses track of Ross. Meanwhile, Cal meets Tobin holding a dead crow. Tobin talks about a mysterious stone that “lives” in the grass field and tells Cal that Becky will die soon. Tobin then takes Cal to the stone and tells him to touch it.
However, Cal refuses to touch it after hearing Becky’s scream. Unfortunately, a mysterious creature attacks Cal, making him unconscious. Meanwhile, Travis, Becky’s unborn baby’s father, is trying to find Becky and Cal who have been declared missing. Travis finds Cal’s car parked at the church and tracks their footsteps into the tall grass field. He then meets Tobin, who mysteriously says that he knows him. Tobin takes him to see Becky’s body lying on the ground.
In a different timeline, Tobin is at the church with his parents, Ross and Natalie. He then hears Travis’s voice calling his name in the tall grass field. Tobin’s dog, Freddy, runs into the field, and his parents follow him. There Ross accidentally touches the mysterious stone, making him possessed by an inhabitant of the grass field. Ross then behaves strangely, acting vicious and suspicious towards his family.
Becky and Cal re-enter the grass field, where Tobin is saddened by his dog’s death. Travis manages to find Becky, Cal, and Tobin telling them that they have been missing for two months. The four of them then try to find a way out together. The grass field’s inhabitant starts haunting Becky, who is pregnant with her baby, and they find out that it’s targeting her baby.
Ross later finds Tobin with them and takes them to the mysterious stone to heal Becky. However, Natalie arrives and tells Travis and the others that Ross has been possessed and has a wicked intention towards them. They then realize that they have been trapped in a time loop that threatens everyone’s lives.
Despite the movie’s short duration of 90 minutes, In the Tall Grass tells a good and quite scary horror story. The dark atmosphere, mysterious wonders, and thrilling fears of Stephen King’s horror world can be felt throughout the movie. The story’s plot twists and surprises provide an entertaining horror movie experience, but it lacks an explanation of the mysterious happenings that occur in the grass field.
Conclusion
In summary, In the Tall Grass is a horror movie that delivers a terrifying yet entertaining experience to the viewers. The movie has a compelling storyline that creates a thrilling atmosphere and characters that leave a lasting impression. Although there are some unexplained elements in the story, its plot twists and dark ambiance make it a worthy watch for horror fans.
