In the Tall Grass (2019) Ending Explained
TL;DR:
In the Tall Grass (2019), based on Stephen King and Joe Hill's novella, follows siblings Becky and Cal as they enter a supernatural field of tall grass after hearing a boy's cries for help. The grass manipulates time and space, trapping them in an endless loop where they encounter other lost souls, including the boy's father, Ross, who becomes possessed by a malevolent rock at the field's center. The ending reveals Becky escaping the field by giving birth to her baby (fathered by her brother due to time distortions) and leaving it in the grass, breaking the cycle. The rock's influence persists, however, as the field continues to lure new victims.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending
The climax of In the Tall Grass revolves around Becky's realization that the only way to escape the field's time loop is through sacrifice. After discovering that her brother Cal is both her sibling and the father of her unborn child (due to the grass warping time and reality), she understands that the malevolent force in the field-a sentient, black rock-feeds on suffering and repetition. The rock has corrupted Ross, the father of the lost boy Travis, turning him into a murderous zealot who believes he's serving a higher purpose by killing those trapped in the grass. In the final act, Becky gives birth in the field, and the baby's cries create a temporal rift, allowing her to escape. However, she abandons the child in the grass, implying that the cycle will continue with a new victim. The final shot shows the grass regrowing, suggesting the field is alive and waiting for its next prey.
Unresolved Questions & Possible Answers
What is the origin of the black rock?
- Possible Answer: The rock could be a Lovecraftian entity or a cursed object that thrives on human despair, similar to other Stephen King horrors like The Mist or Pet Sematary.
- Alternative Theory: It may be a manifestation of purgatory, trapping souls in an endless loop of suffering.
Why does the grass manipulate time?
- Possible Answer: The field is a sentient predator that uses time loops to disorient and break its victims, making them easier to consume emotionally or spiritually.
- Alternative Theory: The rock warps reality as part of its curse, ensuring no one can leave without extreme sacrifice.
Is Becky truly free at the end?
- Possible Answer: Yes, but at a terrible cost-her child remains trapped, meaning the cycle isn't truly broken.
- Alternative Theory: No, she may still be in an illusion, as the grass has shown it can manipulate perceptions.
What happened to Travis and his mother Natalie?
- Possible Answer: They're trapped forever, as their fates were tied to Ross's corruption.
- Alternative Theory: They may have escaped in an unseen timeline, given the nonlinear nature of the field.
Personal Opinion on the Ending & Film
The ending of In the Tall Grass is bleak yet thematically consistent with Stephen King's signature horror style-where escape often comes with irreversible consequences. The idea of a sentient, predatory landscape is chilling, and the film effectively uses disorientation and body horror (like the incestuous twist) to unsettle viewers. However, the pacing and character development could have been stronger; some reveals feel rushed rather than earned. The rock's malevolence is underdeveloped, leaving its motives vague. Still, the final scene-where Becky drives away, haunted by her choice-is a powerful, ambiguous conclusion that lingers, making it a memorable, if flawed, horror experience.
Would I recommend it? For fans of psychological horror and cosmic dread, yes-but it's not for those seeking tidy resolutions. The film's strength lies in its atmosphere and existential terror, not its logic or closure.