Cornfields, Killers & Celluloid: 'The Rows' to Premiere at FrightFest 2025

This year’s FrightFest is set to unleash something special out of the Midwest and straight into your nightmares. Shot on gritty 35mm and steeped in dread, The Rows, the debut feature from Seth Daly, will celebrate its International Premiere at the festival on August 25th.

Written and directed by Daly, The Rows is a suspense-soaked, slow-burning horror-thriller described as a chilling hybrid of No Country for Old Men, The Strangers, and The Town That Dreaded Sundown. It stars Brindisi Dupree (Dr. Quarantine), Lara Pictet (Secret Identity, By Light of Desert Night), Marcus Woods (Empire, Finding Nicole), Hans Heilmann (The Lord of All Future Space & Time), along with Mary Montoya, Rynn Reigns, Douglas Fries, and the director himself.

The film follows seven-year-old Lucy, who wakes up bloodied and disoriented in a sprawling cornfield with no clue how she got there. A dead body, a discarded gun, and three masked killers quickly make her situation a terrifying nightmare. What follows is a brutal cat-and-mouse game with the young girl desperately trying to escape as night falls. Helping her are two strange allies: her loyal family dog– and an uncanny golden creature that lurks within the rows.

With minimal dialogue and a tight 98-minute runtime, The Rows leans into atmosphere, tension, and stark visual storytelling. Despite its micro-budget, it’s crafted for the big screen experience, right down to the film stock and a haunting original soundtrack.

Speaking about the film’s inclusion at FrightFest, Daly said:

“The Rows was made for FrightFest and the cinematic aesthetic it celebrates. From the celluloid photography to the killer soundtrack, everything was crafted with the theatrical experience in mind. The audience will have a blast.”

It’s rare to see a debut feature commit to 35mm these days, and rarer still for it to look this menacing. If that eerie golden creature doesn’t get under your skin, the masked killers certainly will.

The Rows premieres August 25th at FrightFest 2025. Watch the trailer here: