In the Tall Grass

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, In the Tall Grass is available in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on Netflix right now. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Laysla De Oliveira leads a cast that never overplays its hand. Put it on tonight on Netflix and see for yourself.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, In the Tall Grass earns its spot. Character-driven storytelling at its most effective — In the Tall Grass earns every emotional beat it goes for. After hearing a child screaming for help from the green depths of a vast field of tall grass, Becky, a pregnant woman, and Cal, her brother, park their car near a mysterious abandoned church and enter the field, discovering that they are not alone and, for some reason, they are unable to escape a completely inextricable vegetable labyrinth. Laysla De Oliveira and Harrison Gilbertson lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2019. The performances in In the Tall Grass do a lot of work in the silences between the dialogue. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Viewers drawn to character-driven storytelling will find plenty to sit with in In the Tall Grass. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Laysla De Oliveira is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.