There is Something Lurking in The Fields: A Movie Review

*full disclosure: a screener of this film was provided by Breaking Glass Pictures.

Directors: Tom Mattera, and David Mazzoni.

Writer: Harrison Smith.

Cast: Tara Reid, Cloris Leachman and Brian Anthony Wilson.

Horror films and films in general have been set in cornfields for generations. From the original Children of the Corn (1984) to Jeepers Creepers II (2003) and more recently in The Maze (2011), cornfields can fill the viewer with dread. There is just no way to find your way out once in head height stalks. In The Fields, the cornfields host a supernatural force whose purpose is both malicious and purposeful. The one chosen to resolve this tension is Steven (Joshua Ormond) and with a 10 year old character leading the charge, you just never know what is real and what is imagination.

The story begins with the protagonist Steven and his bickering parents. There are stresses involving infidelity and violence with Steven sent to his grandparents while the storm blows over. Even at this farmhouse there are dark clouds as Steven finds a woman's body in the fields. A victim of violence, her eyes seem to plead for help or some sort of understanding. Steven tries to blow off the experience, but shapes at his window and strange visions mean that Steven will have to tell someone about what he has seen and is now seeing. No one believes him until night visits lead to broken glass and gunfire. But it is hard to shoot your way out of a haunted cornfield.

Hiney (Bev Appleton), Steven's grandfather, does much of the shooting. And his heart problems mean that someone will have to take his place against the supernatural forces. Gladys is expertly portrayed by Academy Award winner Cloris Leachman. Leachman really portrays the non-politically correct '70s with vigour even at her extended age. She cusses, she farts and she agitates to some pretty compelling effect. Steven is usually the focus of her tirades and Steven is also the one driving the story forward. It is just too bad that his parents, Bonnie (Tara Reid) and Barry (Faust Checho), cannot intervene sooner between Steven and his ghostly visions. All of these characters get some story time with the emphasis placed on Gladys, Hiney and Steven.

The filmmakers focus is on creating a believable ghost story and for the most part, they achieve their goal. Quality film elements get them there. The score from composer John Avarese is compelling and suitably eerie. Also creepy is the location. Night shots are the best as the black figures in the cornfields seem to blend into the background. All of these elements create for believability, but some other film elements hamper the film.

The Fields is hard to define in genre. This is not really a horror film as the terrifying scenes only develop in the final few scenes. The earlier portions are similar to a psychological drama in the vein of Insomnia starring Al Pacino. Characters are struggling with their own internal problems while also trying to relate to each other. Things go sideways as each characters' motivations generally conflict with each other until Steven unites all of the characters in the finale. And you are going to need patience to get to the exciting conclusion.

This was an enjoyable film overall. Some film fans might find the story's structure a little slow paced, but the payoff is in fact rewarding. Some tension from the supernatural could have been developed earlier. However, the climax comes when it is ready and the final scene wraps up the previous events in a believable way. To release on DVD April 24th, this is a film for fans of thrillers or dramas. But this is definitely not a child's movie as a scene of suicide promises to unsettle and so do those ominous cornfields!

Overall: 7 out of 10 (a good story, interesting characters, realistic, more supernatural elements needed to make this a horror film).

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The Fields on Facebook


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