In the Tall Grass (2019)

In the Tall Grass (2019), directed by Vincenzo Natali, is a psychological horror film adapted from Stephen King and Joe Hill’s novella of the same name. Like much of King’s work, it blends supernatural dread with human flaws, resulting in a chilling tale about family, fate, and a mysterious field that warps time and space.

Detailed Summary

The Beginning: The Lure of the Grass

Becky (Laysla De Oliveira), a young pregnant woman, is traveling with her brother Cal (Avery Whitted) to San Diego. On their road trip, they pull over near a large field of unnaturally tall grass after hearing the cries of a boy calling for help. They decide to enter the grass to rescue him, despite Becky’s reluctance. Very quickly, they realize something is wrong—the grass disorients them, distances shift unnaturally, and they cannot find their way back out.

The Family in the Grass

Inside, they encounter a boy named Tobin (Will Buie Jr.), who is lost and terrified. He claims that once you enter the grass, you never escape. Soon after, Becky and Cal meet Tobin’s parents, Ross (Patrick Wilson) and Natalie (Rachel Wilson). Ross seems overly confident about knowing the field’s secrets, while Natalie shows signs of fear and madness.

The Rock and the Power Within

At the center of the grass lies a massive, ancient rock covered with strange carvings. Ross describes it as the “heart” of the field, claiming that touching it gives one knowledge of the grass’s ways. He becomes increasingly unhinged, believing the rock gives him divine power. The film slowly reveals that the field manipulates time, trapping people in loops where events repeat endlessly but never the same way twice.

Travis Enters the Field

Meanwhile, Becky’s ex-boyfriend Travis (Harrison Gilbertson) comes looking for her, following their abandoned car. He too enters the grass, quickly realizing its supernatural nature. Travis becomes the audience’s anchor—a man trying to save Becky and her unborn child while battling both the endless maze and Ross’s descent into violence.

Chaos, Violence, and Revelations

As time loops unfold, Becky experiences visions of her pregnancy and even sees herself being strangled by the grass. Cal, jealous and protective of Becky, turns hostile toward Travis. Ross, however, emerges as the true villain. He embraces the rock’s influence, becoming a prophet-like figure who believes death and rebirth in the grass are inevitable. He kills mercilessly, insisting that the field is “God’s design.”

Movie Ending

In the climax, Ross brutally attacks Travis and Becky. Natalie, trying to resist Ross’s madness, is murdered by him. Becky, in a horrifying vision, sees her baby delivered but then devoured by Ross—though it’s unclear if this is literal or a manipulation by the grass. Becky eventually dies inside the field.

Travis, mortally wounded, decides to make a sacrifice. He touches the rock, gaining knowledge of the field’s labyrinthine paths. Using this awareness, he guides young Tobin to the exit, telling him to prevent Becky and Cal from ever entering the grass in the first place. Tobin successfully escapes and intercepts Becky and Cal just before they walk in, warning them away.

The cycle is broken for them, but Travis dies inside the grass, resigned to his fate. The film ends with Becky and Cal driving away, unaware of the sacrifice Travis made for them.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No. In the Tall Grass has no mid-credits or post-credits scenes. The ending with Travis’s sacrifice and Tobin’s escape serves as the film’s definitive conclusion.

Type of Movie

This is a psychological supernatural horror film. It blends time-loop storytelling with cosmic horror elements, creating dread not just from monsters, but from inevitability and fate.

Cast

• Laysla De Oliveira as Becky
• Avery Whitted as Cal
• Patrick Wilson as Ross Humboldt
• Rachel Wilson as Natalie Humboldt
• Will Buie Jr. as Tobin Humboldt
• Harrison Gilbertson as Travis

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Mark Korven, known for his work on The Witch. His minimalist, eerie compositions rely heavily on unsettling tones and dissonance, perfectly amplifying the sense of claustrophobia and despair in the grass.

Filming Locations

The movie was filmed in Toronto and Port Hope, Ontario, Canada. Fields of real tall grass were used along with set extensions and CGI to create the endless maze. The natural flat Canadian landscapes made the setting convincing and immersive.

Awards and Nominations

While the film didn’t win major awards, it was noted at genre festivals for its atmosphere and adaptation of King’s material. It received mixed reviews overall but was praised for its visuals and Patrick Wilson’s performance.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Director Vincenzo Natali wanted the grass itself to feel like a character—alive and hostile.
• Much of the disorientation in the film was achieved through practical camerawork, not just CGI.
• Patrick Wilson improvised some of his more unhinged lines, adding to Ross’s unsettling personality.
• The crew had to shoot in real fields, which caused logistical problems—grass height had to remain consistent across shoots.

Inspirations and References

• Directly adapted from Stephen King and Joe Hill’s novella.
• The idea was inspired by the fear of getting lost in simple but overwhelming environments, like cornfields.
• Natali has stated he wanted the film to echo Lovecraftian horror, where human beings face forces far beyond comprehension.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

While the novella’s ending is darker, the film offered a slightly more hopeful resolution with Tobin escaping. Deleted scenes reportedly included longer sequences with Becky’s visions of motherhood and Ross’s ramblings about the rock’s origins.

Book Adaptations and Differences

• In the novella, Becky’s fate is more explicit and tragic, with no escape for anyone.
• The movie adds Travis as a major character and gives him a redemptive arc.
• The film’s ending is more optimistic, offering the chance to break the cycle—unlike the novella’s bleak conclusion.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• Becky and Cal realizing the grass changes their positions even when standing still.
• Travis’s discovery of Becky’s corpse in one timeline.
• Ross declaring the rock’s power and urging others to touch it.
• The final bittersweet scene of Tobin guiding Becky and Cal away from the field.

Iconic Quotes

• Ross: “The grass doesn’t move dead things.”
• Becky (to Cal): “I don’t need you to save me.”
• Ross: “The rock teaches you things. Things you can’t unknow.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The rock’s carvings resemble ancient mythological symbols from multiple cultures, hinting at its timeless power.
• The endless loops in the film are a subtle nod to King’s obsession with cyclical time (seen also in The Dark Tower).
• Travis’s final sacrifice echoes classic King protagonists who give their lives for loved ones.

Trivia

• Patrick Wilson sang some of his dialogue to make Ross sound more unhinged.
• The novella was originally published in Esquire magazine before becoming a book.
• Natali previously directed Cube (1997), another claustrophobic film about people trapped in a shifting maze.

Why Watch?

Watch In the Tall Grass if you enjoy mind-bending horror with a mix of psychological tension and supernatural dread. It’s not a monster movie—it’s about being lost, disoriented, and manipulated by a force that defies human logic.

Director’s Other Movies

• Cube (1997)
• Splice (2009)
• Haunter (2013)

Recommended Films for Fans

• Gerald’s Game (2017)
• 1922 (2017)
• The Mist (2007)
• The Ritual (2017)
• The Endless (2017)