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In the Tall Grass

In the Tall Grass is a 2019 Canadian supernatural horror film written and directed by Vincenzo Natali.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

In the Tall Grass is a 2019 Canadian supernatural horror film written and directed by Vincenzo Natali. It is based on the 2012 novella by Stephen King and Joe Hill and follows siblings who become trapped in a mysterious field of tall grass that distorts space and time. The film was produced in Canada and released on Netflix.

Plot

The film follows Becky and Cal, siblings on a road trip who stop beside a field of tall grass after hearing a child’s voice. Once inside, they discover the field is disorienting and difficult to escape, with supernatural forces affecting their movements and perception of time.

Production

In the Tall Grass was written and directed by Vincenzo Natali. It adapts Stephen King and Joe Hill’s novella of the same name and was produced as a Canadian film for Netflix.

Release

The film premiered in 2019 and later began streaming on Netflix. It was released internationally as a Netflix original horror film.

Cast

Major cast members include Laysla De Oliveira as Becky, Avery Whitted as Cal, Patrick Wilson, Harrison Gilbertson, Rachel Wilson, and Will Buie Jr.

Key facts

  • The film is a Canadian horror adaptation of Stephen King and Joe Hill’s novella.
  • It centers on siblings Becky and Cal, who enter a field after hearing a boy call for help.
  • The story involves supernatural distortions of space and time inside the grass.
  • The film stars Laysla De Oliveira, Avery Whitted, Patrick Wilson, Harrison Gilbertson, Rachel Wilson, and Will Buie Jr.
  • It was written and directed by Vincenzo Natali and released by Netflix in 2019.
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Canadian context

It is a Canadian-produced feature film directed by Canadian filmmaker Vincenzo Natali and released through Netflix, making it relevant to Canadian genre cinema and streaming production.

Frequently asked questions

What is In the Tall Grass?
It is a 2019 Canadian supernatural horror film based on a novella by Stephen King and Joe Hill.
Who directed In the Tall Grass?
Vincenzo Natali wrote and directed the film.
What is it about?
It follows siblings who enter a field of tall grass after hearing a child call for help, then become trapped in a supernatural maze.
What is the source material?
The film is based on the 2012 novella In the Tall Grass by Stephen King and Joe Hill.
Who stars in the film?
The cast includes Laysla De Oliveira, Avery Whitted, Patrick Wilson, Harrison Gilbertson, Rachel Wilson, and Will Buie Jr.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Tall_Grass_(film)
    Supports: Canadian 2019 supernatural horror film; directed and written by Vincenzo Natali; cast; adaptation from King and Hill novella
  2. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/80237905
    Supports: Official synopsis; release as Netflix film; genre; cast
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/in_the_tall_grass_2019
    Supports: Director, screenwriter, producers, production company, runtime, genre, release details
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4687108/
    Supports: Plot premise; cast; film identification