Fantastic Fest 2019: IN THE TALL GRASS Review – Fits Neatly Into Stephen King’s Established Multiverse
Josh Millican
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Starring Laysla De Oliveira, Avery Whitted, and Patrick Wilson
Written by Vincenzo Natali (based on the novella by Stephen King and Joe Hill)
Directed by Vincenzo Natali
In the Tall Grass may be based on a novella Stephen King co-wrote with his son Joe Hill, but it fits neatly into the already established “Multiverse” created by the best-selling Master of Horror. You know what I’m talking about: The threads that connect The Shining to IT to The Tommyknockers to just about anything and everything Kind has written. Easter Eggs to Christine and Children of the Corn hammer this point home and make it clear that, while the details of this story may be unique, we’re treading through a familiar (if terrifying) world. And this isn’t to suggest In the Tall Grass is trite or recycled; though flawed, its feels like something made for King’s most ardent fans, and Hill’s contributions bring a contemporary edge his father hasn’t really had since the late 1980s/early 1990.
The Bermuda Triangle is an infamous spot where scores of planes and ships have apparently vanished into thin air. Theories range from natural phenomenon to alien intervention and interdimensional portals. But what makes the Triangle such an abstraction (as opposed to a popular source of dread) is that it’s not easy to get to. So imagine an area just as mysterious, but not in the middle of the ocean. What if there was a metaphysical dead zone that you could simply, innocently, inadvertently stumble into. Sure, scores of people go missing in National Parks every year, but this central field of tall grass is flat, inviting, and (in theory) easy to maneuver out of. That’s what makes it such a delicious trap for something ominous and prehistoric—something our tiny human brains are simply incapable of understanding.
Synopsis:
A brother and sister enter a field of tall grass to rescue a boy, but they soon realize they cannot escape and something evil lurks in the grass.
Though thematically and stylistically worlds apart, In the Tall Grass felt akin to 1408 in the sense that both are very focused (if fantastic) stories. There’s a field of unusually tall grass and, if you find yourself drawn into its cool shade, you’ll be lucky to ever find your way out again. There are voices and random characters swirling throughout the lush green field, some encouraging, others foreboding. All lost within the reeds find themselves drawn to a peculiar monolith, one that may have ancient or perhaps even extraterrestrial origins. The cinematography is fantastic start to finish, with CGI effects used sparingly; and while there’s gag-inducing gore, the tale is character-driven, genuinely suspenseful, and propelled by an engrossing mystery. At it’s most intense, In the Tall Grass feels like a blood relative of The Mist. There are some cerebral, psychedelic moments that convey hints of cosmic terror and existential madness.
Vincenzo Natali directs In the Tall Grass from a screenplay adaptation he penned himself. As I’m not familiar with the source material, I can’t speak to how well he manifested the tome by King and Hill. What I can attest to, however, is that Natali creates a world that’s beautiful and comforting before it becomes a metaphysical nightmare. Big sky and shimmering seas of tall grass would inspire any motorist to stop for a few photos, but everything changes once the sinister weeds close in around their prey. It doesn’t matter how infinite the field appears or how exposed the characters are beneath an oft stormy night sky, claustrophobia is stoked to unnerving levels.
The cast consists of a small ensemble who work extremely well together. Sister and brother Becky and Cal DeMuth (played by Laysla De Oliveira and Avery Whitted respectively) are on their way to San Diego in order to give Becky (who is pregnant) a fresh start. Harrison Gilbertson plays Travis McKean, Becky’s baby-daddy who, after some initial reservations, has decided to follow Becky after she goes missing. Rachel Wilson plays Natalie Humboldt: She’s either a woman desperate to protect her son or someone who has succumbed to insanity after days spent wandering through the grass. She’s a Gothic trope, a character who could be especially perceptive to the paranormal or simply mentally ill-equipped to handle intensely stressful situations. Genre staple Patrick Wilson plays Ross Humboldt, Natalie’s husband who has either solved the mystery of the tall grass—or become the ambassador of ethereal and dangerous forces. And finally, child actor Will Buie Jr. plays the couple’s son, Tobin Humbolt; he ricocheted between an archetypal creepy kid and a symbol of innocence and hope. Throughout the film, different individuals and teams face victories and pitfalls, through (thematically) one has to wonder if escape (and symbolic redemption) are even a possibility
In the Tall Grass is a genuine spooker that grabs you from the get-go with impressive cinematography, snappy pacing, cracking dialog and, most importantly, an aptly capable cast. Arriving on Netflix beginning October 4th, In the Tall Grass isn’t likely to make a splash the size of Pet Sematary, IT: Chapter Two, or the upcoming Doctor Sleep, but I can see it topping past Netflix adaptations of Kings work, specifically Gerald’s Game and 1922, both released in 2018. Don’t get me wrong, those releases are fantastic (especially Gerald’s Game) but there’s something about In the Tall Grass that’s unnerving at an almost primitive level. Most importantly, it’s consistently entertaining.
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In The Tall Grass
Summary
In the Tall Grass might just be Netflix’s most successful King adaptation to date. It will certainly make for an entertaining watch, and the fact that it’s arriving at on the streaming powerhouse in October means you’ve got a guaranteed spine-tingler to treat yourself to this Halloween season. Don’t miss it.
Categorized:Reviews
