With their claustrophobic and disorienting nature, as well as their vastness, cornfields have become a staple in horror, creating some of the most iconic set pieces. The rural isolation of a cornfield taps into the primal fear of the unknown and the possibility someone – or something – could be hiding among the dense stalks and leaves rustling in the wind. Premiering at this year's FrightFest, Seth Daly's debut feature, The Rows, gives home invasion a makeover with this twisty, though sometimes muddled horror thriller set amongst the maize.
The film begins with seven-year-old Lucy (Brindisi Capri) waking up in the middle of a mysterious cornfield with blood on her head and no memory of how she got there. Shortly after, she discovers a dead body and a gun, and is confronted by three masked killers. Against the odds, she escapes, and The Rows follows the youngster attempting to evade the killers, while discovering a mysterious golden presence in the field and the central mystery of why she is there in the first place.
Drawing inspiration from the likes of No Country for Old Men, The Strangers, and The Town That Dreaded Sundown, The Rows is a boiling pot thriller that wastes no time diving straight into brutality. While some may believe that a narrative following a child protagonist may go easy on the horror, The Rows doesn't scrimp on the graphic deaths or violence that juxtapose starkly with the beauty of the sprawling fields shot on 35mm film. Tension ratchets up from the get-go as Lucy ducks, weaves, and remains silent for a great deal of the first act, desperately trying to remain undetected. Daly doesn't shoehorn information or backstory into the plot to get the audience up to speed, rather eking out information slowly to keep The Rows grounded and reward viewers picking apart each scene and flashback for clues.
Aided by her family dog and a mysterious golden creature, the narrative focuses on Lucy throughout her plight, with an incredible performance from Brindisi Capri. How information unfolds in the field keeps the atmosphere of anxiety and urgency ticking, highlighting the strength of the storytelling devices when faced with a microbudget. It loses steam with the reveal of why Lucy is in the field, but what it lacks in payoff it makes up for in an adrenaline-fueled finale, which will leave viewers glued to their screens.
The Rows is an impressive feature debut for Daly with dazzling performances, sky-high stakes, and a keen eye for detail and storytelling. While its supernatural air and eventual reveal don't quite deliver on the promise, the tense atmosphere suggests it maintains intrigue with its unique take on the cat-and-mouse thriller subgenre.
The Rows had its world premiere at FrightFest 2025 on 25 August
