by Jason Adams
Things that are hot right now: Stephen King adaptations. Things that are hot always: James Marsden. And finally the twain are meeting with In the Tall Grass, the just-announced adaptation of King's novella (co-authored with his son Joe Hill). The story's about "a sister and brother who venture into a vast field of grass in Kansas after hearing a boy's cries for help" which turns out to have been a bad plan of action. Then again "doing anything" inside a Stephen King story usually turns out to have been a bad plan of action...
If you ever find yourself inside a Stephen King story I have some advice: do nothing. Lay down and die. It's the only safe thing to do. (I am not fooling with clowns, yo.)
Anyway even though I'm mixed-feeling towards the show I'm happy that Westworld is giving Marsden some heat. His almost-not-quite career remains a mystery for the ages. How someone so beautiful and actually talented when given the chance has never really found The Role confounds. I'm not sure a King adaptation will be that chance (although last year's Gerald's Game gave the similarly career'd Carla Gugino a well-deserved showcase) - has anyone read this story? Does it show cinematic promise?
In the Tall Grass is being directed by Vincenzo Natali, the man behind cult fave Cube, the divisive Sarah Polley & Adrien Brody science-horror flick Splice (which I love but which is also the owner of a D grade Cinemascore), and also a whole bunch of the TV series Hannibal. If nothing else Natali has style to spare.