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[REVIEW] Netflix’s ‘In the Tall Grass’ Requires Your Full Attention

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In the Tall Grass

Netflix’s adaptation of Stephen King and Joe Hill’s novella In the Tall Grass hits the streaming service this Friday, October 4, 2019.

Adapted and directed by Vincenzo Natali (The Cube), the film focuses on Cal (Avery Whitted) and his sister Becky (Laysla De Oliveira). Becky is pregnant and they are traveling across country to San Diego where she plans to give the baby up for adoption.

After a bout of morning sickness on the side of the road next to a field of grass taller than their heads, they hear a young boy’s cries for help. Stepping inside in order to help him, they soon become separated and realize there is something sinister about this particular field.

The film boasts several good performances including Oliveira who is vulnerable without being completely helpless as Becky, giving a layered performance that quickly garners sympathy from the audience.

As her brother, Whitted also gives an interesting performance. You believe that he wants to protect his sister, but at times you’re not entirely sure what motivates his protective instincts.

The real scene-stealer here, however, is Patrick Wilson (The Conjuring). Wilson took over the role of Ross, the father of Tobin AKA the boy whose cries drew Becky and Cal into the field, when James Marsden had to leave the production due to scheduling conflicts according to IMDb.

Wilson attacks the role with gusto. You’re never entirely sure which Ross will emerge from the tall grass at any given moment, and that brings its own brand of tension to the film.

In the Tall Grass is a twisting, turning narrative with a lot of moving parts. The field twists reality so that events repeat and time and space do not move the same way for everyone who finds themselves inside its boundaries. Because of this, the plot becomes fairly intricate quickly.

All of this is to say that the film is one that fairly demands the viewer’s undivided attention. If you’re going to get up to leave the room, even for a minute, pause the film. If your phone chimes and you need to answer a text, pause the film. If you don’t, you will most assuredly miss something.

This isn’t to imply that the film is too complicated, nor is it unlike other works by both King and Hill. In fact, parts of it feel eerily similar to another of King’s stories, Children of the Corn. At points, I wondered if He Who Walks Behind the Rows wasn’t somehow related to the nefarious presence inside this field which causes the mud to hold onto your shoes just a fraction of a second too long and the blades of grass to move just a little too quickly to cut exposed flesh.

Natali is, among other things, a storyboard artist, and you can see that artist’s eye in the production’s often stunning visuals. However there are moments where he almost seems to become preoccupied with the image rather than the storytelling which slows the pacing in the film.

Sadly, it becomes so heavy-handed at times that you can almost feel him pointing at an object or scene saying, “Look at what I’m showing you!” It’s jarring and can push you out of the narrative of the film.

Despite this, Into the Tall Grass is still enjoyable if not quite as terrifying as it could have been, and easy to recommend for fans of the novella on which it is based.

Into the Tall Grass debuts on Netflix on October 4, 2019. Check out the trailer below!

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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