When the steam of modernity stops, the old world creeps back upon us in all its superstitious horror.
32 Reviews
Effective short story
rinoas_angel14 May 2021
The ending didn't explain much, but that's okay
thefoochie14 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I think it's completely fine that the ending of the episode didn't explain what those creatures were. It just gave us hints that they might be from another world. To be honest, I didn't need an explanation. I just enjoyed this thrilling ride. This was definitely the scariest episode of the season, and it had me on the edge of my seat. For a while I actually thought the main character was going to die. A very good, thrilling episode.
Fun tale
newpapyrus14 May 2021
Cool but definitely wanted more
shakedatjunk30 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Should get a mini series. This almost feels like it could take place in the same universe as The Descent, especially knowing the monster in that movie come from the ground and feed at night. Also has some obvious Polar Express vibes due to the cinematography and atmosphere and hint of magic. Only problem is it felt slightly incomplete. I would love a mini series or even a sequel short to flesh out some things more. 7.2/10.
Very much like the movie
samuelmorley-7262014 May 2021
Track and Field
southdavid25 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Netflix's "Love, Death and Robots" series returns for a second run. Overall, I enjoyed the first season and wrote short individual reviews for each episode and I think I'll take the same approach here.
A steam train comes to an unexpected stop in the middle of some overgrown fields. One of the passengers, Laird (Joe Dempsie) gets off to smoke a cigarette. He's warned by the guard to stay close to the train, but ethereal green lights tempt him to take a look in the surrounding growth. Turned around, Laird struggles to get back to the train as it begins to move away but when he discovers the source of the light, his fear turns to terror.
Lets do things the other way around and talk about the story first for a change. There are several cultural touchstones for this short. One is probably Stephen King's "In The Tall Grass" which was adapted into a disappointing film for Netflix a couple of years ago. There is a Lovecraftian aspect to the story, the turn of the century setting, the rural location and the reveal of the creatures that are hiding in the grass, with their eyeless bulbous heads full of sharp teeth. I wondered too if there was some euphemistic purgatory references in the plot, though I concede that this might be me reading into things that weren't meant. Its quite a basic plot though, with Laird encountering the creatures and trying to make it back to the train alive, with little in the way of twists along the way.
From an animation standpoint, it was perhaps the most interesting one so far. The visuals looking like a watercolour painting inspired CGI, in which you can see the virtual brushstrokes.
Again, if there's a theme to this run generally, it's technically excellent, if slightly lacking storylinewise and "The Tall Grass" would also fit that description.
A steam train comes to an unexpected stop in the middle of some overgrown fields. One of the passengers, Laird (Joe Dempsie) gets off to smoke a cigarette. He's warned by the guard to stay close to the train, but ethereal green lights tempt him to take a look in the surrounding growth. Turned around, Laird struggles to get back to the train as it begins to move away but when he discovers the source of the light, his fear turns to terror.
Lets do things the other way around and talk about the story first for a change. There are several cultural touchstones for this short. One is probably Stephen King's "In The Tall Grass" which was adapted into a disappointing film for Netflix a couple of years ago. There is a Lovecraftian aspect to the story, the turn of the century setting, the rural location and the reveal of the creatures that are hiding in the grass, with their eyeless bulbous heads full of sharp teeth. I wondered too if there was some euphemistic purgatory references in the plot, though I concede that this might be me reading into things that weren't meant. Its quite a basic plot though, with Laird encountering the creatures and trying to make it back to the train alive, with little in the way of twists along the way.
From an animation standpoint, it was perhaps the most interesting one so far. The visuals looking like a watercolour painting inspired CGI, in which you can see the virtual brushstrokes.
Again, if there's a theme to this run generally, it's technically excellent, if slightly lacking storylinewise and "The Tall Grass" would also fit that description.
Intense and stunning
Koracta22 May 2021
Short but Scary
ShadowsBeneathTheLight22 May 2022
Another win for Season 2. I enjoyed the setting in 1800's on train making it's way across the country. I feel the style this was drawn mirrors the time period well. You have bouts of stop motion that accent the older time period and compliment the technology used like stop watches and lanterns. But don't let that fool you, there is detail if you know where to spot it. For instance, when the wind changes, you can see the smoke off a cigarette change directions. You can see the surrounding grass rustle with movement. Sparks glow brighter the longer the brakes are applied. And the creatures are made all the more terrifying with the harsh brush strokes of this art style. Just watch closely as the monster screams, it's flesh ripping whenever it opens its jaws. Now that is truly disturbing.
The conversation at the end was rather meh. I feel like the writers had to try to explain what those creatures are without explicitly explaining what they are. The conversation feels forced, and I would've preferred a simple "I don't know what those things are" over the dialogue that is stated. All in all though, a decent way to kill 10 minutes.
The conversation at the end was rather meh. I feel like the writers had to try to explain what those creatures are without explicitly explaining what they are. The conversation feels forced, and I would've preferred a simple "I don't know what those things are" over the dialogue that is stated. All in all though, a decent way to kill 10 minutes.
Stylish Horror
gbkimberley14 May 2021
All good short stories give you more than your money's worth and this one is no exception. It plays out like a snippet from someone's nightmare that's been transferred to the screen and it's done very nicely indeed. It also made me wonder if the writer had been reading some Stephen King lately. 7.5/10.
Get me a lawnmower, stat!
Pjtaylor-96-1380444 June 2021
'The Tall Grass (2021)' focuses on a man who becomes entranced by otherworldly lights as he waits for a train to get back in working order. The piece has an atmospheric presentation, with a painterly graphical style that almost emulates something like 'Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)' (but with less chaotic energy). It's initially a slow burn, as our hero makes his way through the eponymous vegetation to find those alluring lights, but it soon picks up the pace for its action-oriented finale. It's rather suspenseful, if not scary, and it works well for what it is. It's enjoyable pretty much all the way through. That is until its exposition dump of an ending, which does nothing but take all the steam out of the affair. It's too late to be learning the sort of stuff it covers, as the thing's one-and-done story is essentially over already, and much of it doesn't make sense anyway so it would have been better to keep those elements ambiguous. Still, it doesn't ruin the rest of the affair, which is typically an effective suspense piece. 7/10.
Not exceptional.
linn-1235614 May 2021
Nice idea.
lawrencelawrence8614 May 2021
Don't wander...
noxaman11 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I would have liked a little more world building or context for this one. Is this the 1800's? Are they on earth? Maybe just a reason for being on the train in the first place.
Ultimately though, I really liked the monsters, and I don't mind that they are unexplained. That adds to the horror. The animation style really suits the 19th century atheistic. I just wish our dude had thanked the dang conductor for saving his ass.
Ultimately though, I really liked the monsters, and I don't mind that they are unexplained. That adds to the horror. The animation style really suits the 19th century atheistic. I just wish our dude had thanked the dang conductor for saving his ass.
It's like an old scary story
imxhill5 March 2022
It was shorter than the previous episodes, but the beautiful animation was memorable. It uses a very unique and interesting animation style.
Unfortunately, it wasn't that effective in terms of suspense, of course, it wasn't bad or boring at all, but it wasn't that scary or thrilling, perhaps because of the limitations of the short work.
No likes yet.
Unfortunately, it wasn't that effective in terms of suspense, of course, it wasn't bad or boring at all, but it wasn't that scary or thrilling, perhaps because of the limitations of the short work.
No likes yet.
Probably my favourite episode this season
Kingslaay5 June 2021
I was so pleased to hear about L, D & R's new season. The first season has been hit and miss. This was a season with fewer episodes but better content. This episode had the right amount of mystery, intrigue and the supernatural. It felt were in early times, about the early 1900s and the short but horrific journey the main character goes through is futile. We all think his fate is sealed. Great and gripping from start to finish.
Banal
gianmarcoronconi12 March 2022
Mind blowing masterpiece
ya3gobo19 May 2021
Good, but not great.
Del_Wares14 May 2021
Quite an enigmatic horror story. A bit thematically mismatched, because there are no robots in it, and not too much love, but otherwise the story is engaging.
The plot can make you anxious, and this is an important feature of the horror stories.
Worth watching.
The plot can make you anxious, and this is an important feature of the horror stories.
Worth watching.
Best Episode this Season
mack68315 May 2021
This was easily the best episode of season 2 for me, but that was never going to be difficult as the other episodes were all pretty poor.
The animation was really nice and the story fitted into the short story format. It wasn't scary but the horror element remind me abit of Lovecraft. Worth a watch.
The animation was really nice and the story fitted into the short story format. It wasn't scary but the horror element remind me abit of Lovecraft. Worth a watch.
Decent
vikassinghsingraur28 May 2021
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