In the Tall Grass Review

Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!

Plot Summary: Two families become trapped in a field where time and space do not operate normally.

Review: This is what happens when you don't mow the lawn all summer. What can I say about this movie? It's fairly straightforward: people are trapped in a magic field as shenanigans ensue. This doesn't mean the story is bad, but the plot is certainly stretched thin with a premise more befitting of a TV show episode. However, the best thing going for "In the Tall Grass" is the mystery at hand. You want to understand what is happening to these characters, and the intrigue is presented remarkably well. Unfortunately, the payoff simply isn't there.

More or less, the enjoyment of the film hinges on the mystery and how much it engages the audience. The image in my mind was nothing more than a large field, but I think we could extrapolate the idea that some random town was completely engulfed by this sentient grass. Or is it really the grass that's magical or this megalodon nose-looking rock? Might have been better if it were a megalodon. We also have tree-people and these carvings that foretell the future or whatever. So, yeah, jack shit is explained. And, no, this isn't the kind of movie where things should be left this vague. Had the reveal at the end been that there was a big rock at the center of the field, then that might have worked since the audience could be left imagining the possibilities. Was the rock alien tech? Some ancient relic? Whatever you want it to be. Instead, the audience knows about this rock all movie long without any background information. It can warp time and space? There are tangent futures and alternate realities? If the rock can show you all eventualities, how did the dad get defeated? What became of the Tobin who was all-knowing? The time warping doesn't even add up since we never get things to connect. Oh, sure, the events come full circle, but why couldn't anyone else escape if the rock makes you omniscient? Eh, the story is Swiss cheese. You can try to rationalize it...but why even bother?

While I do believe the ending will leave most audiences with a sense of wasting their time, I do still think there is room for casual entertainment here. The actors are decent, the cinematography is good, and the primary mystery does keep you invested. I also appreciated the weirdness to everything--like this was Twilight Zone-esque. The material really would have served better as a TV show episode in which the final reveal is showing the rock at the center of the field. Oh well. I can't necessarily say this is worth a view, but I wouldn't classify it as bad either.

Notable Moment: When the ground opened up and we saw, presumably, all the bodies of everyone who died in the field. It's fascinating imagery, yet, does this mean the rock is more of a tree trunk?

Final Rating: 5.5/10