The Rows Review (FrightFest 2025)
Sometimes the best horror thrillers are the simplest. Nowadays, this genre can become too focused on elaborate twists and scares, but every once in a while, a film will come along with a straightforward approach that knows exactly what it is. Last year, Strange Darling wowed FrightFest audiences with its subversive take on the cat-and-mouse thriller; this year, Seth Daly plans to do the same with his directorial debut, The Rows.
The film follows seven-year-old Lucy, who wakes up in the middle of a mysterious cornfield and must hide from three masked individuals who will stop at nothing to find and kill her.
The Rowsย is a film that revels in its simplicity and occasional ambiguity. It’s split into three chapters, each of which sticks to the core formula of masked killers trying to find and kill the main character. The opening chapter is by far the strongest, with minimal dialogue and some terrific camerawork that noticeably heightens the tension. The second chapter, where more information is revealed, is slow to begin with, but gradually ramps up the suspense before the final chapter commences, delivering a rather satisfying conclusion.
Though the majority of the film plays up to its thriller roots, keeping the story as basic as possible for the most part, Daly isn’t afraid to throw a few supernatural elements in the mix. None of this is ever explained, and you essentially have to take it at face value, which works better than you’d initially think. The vagueness of these elements gives The Rows an almost dreamlike quality that may work for some audiences and leave others scratching their heads.
Daly’s choice to use 35mm film for this project gives the film a textured and gnarly feel, which complements the tone perfectly. Similar to last year’s Strange Darling, the film has an exploitation-era look to it, primarily due to its choice of cinematography, which fits the style and story really well.
The star of the film, however, is Brindisi Capri as Lucy. The opening and closing chapters rely heavily on her performance due to the lack of dialogue and reliance on visual storytelling. She very convincingly sells the terror that Lucy needs to feel during these moments, but can also take matters into her own hands when needed.
Unfortunately, the film does have a few minor setbacks that stop it from being perfect. As previously mentioned, the middle act does slow things down to the point where it can start to come across as meandering. Thankfully, it knows when to get back on track and focus on its thriller elements again, but as it plays it out, it can feel as if it’s grinding the pacing to a halt.
The Rows is a tense ride that blends old-school horror filmmaking with fresh ideas. Though it loses momentum at the halfway point, everything Seth Daly offers with this impressive debut is suspenseful and chilling in all the right ways.
โ โ โ 1/2
Premieres at FrightFest 2025 on 25th August / Brindisi Dupree,ย Lara Pictet,ย Marcus Woods,ย Hans Heilmann,ย Mary Montoya,ย Rynn Reigns, Douglas Fries / Dir: Seth Daly
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