A long-empty farmstead holds secret worlds, accidentally unlocked by an amateur photographer and his wife.

A picturesque farm promising a fresh start to a couple in need. It’s part of a premise we horror fans are no strangers to, give or take the odd and ever-present threat of inter-dimensional hauntings. Tate Bunker’s The Field takes this genre staple and builds upon it into the realm of the unexplained and thrill-catching.

When Ben (Tim Higgins) and Lydia (Kara Mulrooney) move to a remote farm town as an effort to save their marriage, strange visitations in the field behind their home will lead them to uncover a colorful history of strange happenings and encounter their eccentric neighbor, Edith (Veronica Cartwright).

Full of otherworldly intrigue and some lush visuals, Bunker’s film immediately sets the tone for an atmospheric haunting. The blend of camera work and editing are cultivated in such a way to reflect Ben’s on-camera practice of photography – his primary tool for capturing proof of his paranormal phenomenon. A particular device to keep an eye out for is the unique ghost reveals throughout the film, glitching in and out of existence within less than the blink of an eye and adding to the sense of unease.

Where the film does struggle a bit is in deciding what exactly it wants to be, becoming a tad muddled when entering the film’s final act and resolution. The audience is taken on a film-long journey into the realm of horror and mystery, quickly doubling back at the last moment to take on a much more fantastical tone, involving elements of sci-fi straight from the episode catalog of the X Files. Higgins and Mulrooney deliver authentic and heartfelt performances as Ben and Lydia, though their relationship seems to be in much better shape than you’d expect for the film’s premise. Their chemistry and genuine love for one another far outweighs the drama and prolonged tension of a relationship in turmoil. As a result, the end payoff doesn’t hit as hard as it would if the couple had fought tooth and nail to earn it and each other.

Veronica Cartwright will undoubtedly bring a smile to your face with her charm and simultaneous peculiarity, as she walks the land in search of the apparitions and tends to her chickens. And to curb the question on your mind, reader, according to Cartwright “no, there were no hostilities between myself and those birds.”. Overall, The Field is sure to capture your attention despite any kinks in the fabric and is well worth a viewing anywhere you can find it.