🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Vincenzo Natali
- Genre: Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
- Release year: 2019
- Runtime (length): 1h 41min
- IMDb rating: 5.3/10 (78k votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 38%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
Siblings enter some tall grass, meet a creepy family, time loops, and a magic rock convinces a pregnant lady to keep her baby… all because of some noisy grass.
🍿 In the Tall Grass: Detailed Plot Synopsis
The Call for Help
Siblings Becky, six months pregnant, and Cal are on a road trip to San Diego. They pull over near a vast field of tall grass after Becky feels unwell. While stopped, they hear a young boy, Tobin, calling for help from within the field. They also hear a woman, presumably Tobin’s mother Natalie, warning him to be quiet. Driven by concern, Becky and Cal decide to venture into the grass to rescue him, despite the unsettling atmosphere.

Lost in the Grass
Once inside, Becky and Cal quickly become separated and disoriented. They realize the grass is more than just a field; it distorts space and time, making it impossible to navigate or find their way back. As they search for Tobin, they encounter strange phenomena and unsettling clues, hinting at a sinister force at play within the tall grass. Communication becomes difficult, and the siblings begin to panic as the field’s grip tightens.

The Rock and the Loop
The characters encounter a large, ancient rock in the center of the field, which seems to be a focal point of the grass’s power. Touching the rock reveals disturbing visions and alters their perception of reality. They become trapped in a time loop, reliving events and encountering different versions of themselves. The cycle of searching, finding, and losing each other continues, driven by the rock’s influence and the field’s malevolent energy.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Becky (Laysla De Oliveira): A pregnant woman traveling with her brother, who gets trapped in a field of tall grass and grapples with the decision of whether to give her baby up for adoption.
- Cal (Avery Whitted): Becky’s overprotective brother who accompanies her on a road trip and becomes lost in the mysterious tall grass.
- Ross Humboldt (Patrick Wilson): A man trapped within the tall grass who has been driven mad by its influence and the ancient rock within.
- Tobin (Will Buie Jr.): A young boy whose cries for help lure Becky and Cal into the tall grass and who seems to have some knowledge of its secrets.
- Travis (Harrison Sloan Gilbertson): The father of Becky’s baby, who enters the tall grass searching for her and becomes entangled in its time-altering properties.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Tobin Humbolt: “My Daddy’s right. We are grass. We keep dying and coming back.” – Tobin says this creepy statement, indicating his awareness of the time-loop.
- Ross Humboldt: “Touch the rock!” – Ross repeats this phrase obsessively after the rock corrupts him, trying to force others to experience its influence.
- Natalie: “Don’t touch it, Ross!” – Natalie warns her husband about the evil of the rock.
💰Box Office
- Budget: N/A
- Domestic Gross: N/A
- Worldwide Gross: N/A
💥 In the Tall Grass Reviews
Personal Review
I have conflicting thoughts on this one. The premise was fascinating, and the visuals were creepy! The time loop element was cool, but at some point, I lost track of what was happening, and the ending felt incomplete, even if it did tie up some things, but it was still enjoyable in a strange way. I jumped a few times. Maybe the grass got to my head.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of Stephen King adaptations”
- “Viewers who enjoy psychological horror”
- “People who like movies with unsettling atmosphere”
- “Those interested in time loop narratives”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Violence”
- “Gore”
- “Disturbing images”
- “Pregnancy themes”
- “Implied incestuous feelings”
Professional Reviews
- Variety: ““In the Tall Grass” offers atmospheric dread and unsettling visuals, but its narrative threads become tangled in the high grass, leaving viewers more puzzled than scared. Patrick Wilson delivers a chilling performance, but even his presence can’t fully redeem the muddled story.
- The Hollywood Reporter: “While Vincenzo Natali crafts some genuinely eerie moments, “In the Tall Grass” struggles to maintain its suspense. The plot meanders, relying on repetitive scares and confusing time jumps, making it a frustrating watch despite its promising premise and strong cast.
- IGN: “In The Tall Grass is a decent watch, but it doesn’t do anything beyond that. The plot is convoluted and has no meaning for the audience. There is also too much time dedicated to the tall grass when it should be dedicated to more important things. The movie has good characters with great acting, but they can’t save the disaster that is In The Tall Grass.
Audience Reactions
The unsettling atmosphere and creepy visuals kept me on the edge of my seat.: Many viewers appreciated the eerie setting and suspenseful tension, despite the confusing plot.
Patrick Wilson’s performance as the increasingly deranged Ross Humboldt was captivating and terrifying.: Most fans loved Patrick Wilson, and agree that it was the best thing in the movie!
Overall Consensus: “In the Tall Grass” provides an unsettling atmosphere and eerie moments, but its convoluted plot and unclear explanations leave many viewers confused and unsatisfied. While some appreciate its suspense and visuals, others find it a frustrating and ultimately disappointing experience.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “The film is based on a novella of the same name by Stephen King and his son Joe Hill.”
- “Director Vincenzo Natali is known for his visually creative films, and ‘In the Tall Grass’ utilizes disorienting camerawork to enhance the sense of being lost.”
- “Much of the film was shot in Canada with the field being located near a bowling alley which was featured in the film. The church, however, was a temporary set made for the film on site.”
🖥️ How to Watch In the Tall Grass?
In the Tall Grass is currently available for streaming on Netflix. Check your local Netflix availability, as it may vary by region. Digital rentals and purchases are typically available on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check these sites for current pricing and availability.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed In the Tall Grass, you might like these similar films:
- Cube (1997): Directed by the same director, Vincenzo Natali, this also contains themes of people trapped in a maze-like structure.
- Children of the Corn (1984): Another Stephen King adaptation featuring creepy children and evil forces in a rural setting, sharing similar horror themes.
- Triangle (2009): A horror film that also deals with time loops and characters trapped in a disorienting and deadly environment.
- The Ruins (2008): Deals with a group of friends trapped by a malevolent plant-based entity, creating a similar sense of inescapable dread.
🛒 In the Tall Grass Related Products
- Stephen King 4-Movie Collection (IT, Pet Sematary, The Shining, In the Tall Grass) [Blu-ray]: This collector’s edition includes multiple Stephen King movies, making it the perfect gift for horror fans who want to own and display all their favorites in high quality.
- Stephen King Short Story Collection: Night Shift: Dive deeper into Stephen King’s twisted mind with this short story collection. It includes many of his iconic works and provides a great reading experience for horror enthusiasts. Available on Kindle.
- Horror Movie Character Socks: Featuring iconic horror movie characters, these socks add a spooky flair to your wardrobe, perfect for showing your love for the genre. One size fits most.
- Horror Movie Trivia Game: Test your knowledge of horror films with this trivia game, perfect for game nights with friends and family. Challenge others and prove you’re the ultimate horror expert.
🎧 Soundtrack
In the Tall Grass features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
The rock serves as a central point in the field, amplifying the grass’s supernatural properties and acting as a nexus for the time loop. Touching it grants visions, alters perceptions, and reveals the unsettling truths of the field. It seems to be both a source of power and a key to understanding the grass’s nature.
The ending shows Travis, Becky’s boyfriend, breaking the time loop by touching the rock and gaining the knowledge to guide Tobin, the lost boy, out of the field. Tobin prevents Becky and Cal from entering the grass, altering the future and saving them from the horrors within. The movie implies that Travis dies, content with his sacrifice.
Yes, In the Tall Grass is based on a novella written by Stephen King and his son, Joe Hill. The story explores themes of isolation, distorted reality, and the sinister nature of seemingly ordinary places.
🔥 Bonus Content
Drag Queens Trixie Mattel & Katya React to Hush and Cabin Fever | I Like to Watch Horror | Netflix
Want to see drag queens Trixie Mattel and Katya hilariously react to scenes from ‘In the Tall Grass’? Their commentary is seriously funny and makes you see the movie in a whole new (and even more entertaining) light.
I will wait in the tall grass for you, Senator.
Remember that super creepy line from the movie? This short clip captures one of the most unsettling quotes from ‘In the Tall Grass’ and is a must-watch for any fan of the film.
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