An important fact to point out is that of the majority of Stephen King works adapted for film, most are really not good. So much that I've come to be leery of any new SK movies. I was at once not blown away yet also pleasantly surprised at Tall Grass. I know this is one of those 50/50 love it/hate it films and many of you didn't care for it. That's cool. No matter how good or bad the acting is, how lush or bleak the cinematography, how inane or well explained the plot, the factor that matters most is this: Did the film resonate with you, did you enjoy it? As James Hetfield said, Nothing else matters.
Whether you dislike this film or are entertained by it might strictly hinge, at least to a degree on how you go into it. Understand that this is a contained story in a minimal universe that probably would have worked better as a anthology segment. This is a wild, not very well explained over the top ride that straddles the line between psychological horror and all out camp. In fact one of the weaknesses here is identity. The first half provides a balanced, creepy premise highlighted by lush cinematography that pulls you in only to devolve somewhat into mindless (yet still fun) mayhem book-ended by a good if not revelatory ending.
Netflix once again provides their signature stamp of "good-looking" film. The production is very good and the artistic film quality indeed makes simple grass look appropriately malevolant. The soundtrack is fitting and the sense of being lost within a field is convincingly conveyed.
For me the characters were pretty good with the actors doing at least a decent job. Consider though that being a tale which is rather confined within a small time and space their is very little call or ability to develop the characters. They are who they are with only their dialogue and the situation to enhance any more about them. The always capable Patrick Wilson is the standout here in a rare bout of unhinged, scene-stealing, overacting, playing his part to the hilt. He even breaks into song with the classic "Midnight Special" one of the cool quirky moments in the film. What makes it great is that Wilson doesn't really stray from his normally calm, polo clad everyman just tweaking it enough for him to be someone else, someone scary. I must also give kudos to Will Buie Jr. for his turn as a creepy child who seems tormented by, well everything.
There is a downside as with most King adaptations. The film strays sometimes wildly from the source material and fans of the book may not cotten to that. As I stated before the film has a crazy shift midway through making this almost like two films in one with the latter half so unhinged it may throw viewers off. The reasons for the circumstances are never fully explained but this was not a factor for me as many films leave aspects to the imagination of the viewers. Elements of incest and cannibalism may not sit well with some.
Overall I found this to be very entertaining but lacking a cohesiveness at key points. The campy nature of the second act didn't always worked but I still felt like I was on a groovy ride that held my interest to the end. Not a classic or great film but not bad and certainly not a waste of time I give this one...
3.5/5
