“Kevin Costner Compared Field of Dreams to His Only Horror Movie for a Bizarre Reason”
Kevin Costner Sees a Surprising Connection Between Field of Dreams and His Only Horror Movie
Kevin Costner once made a surprising comparison between two of his most contrasting films: the iconic Field of Dreams and the little-known horror film The New Daughter. In a 2008 interview with Bloody Disgusting, Costner reflected on the creative risks behind both projects, despite their drastically different genres.
Costner, best known for his roles in sweeping Westerns and heartfelt sports dramas—especially baseball films—stepped way out of his comfort zone with The New Daughter, a supernatural thriller that never quite found its audience. That’s why it caught many off guard when he likened it to Field of Dreams, one of the most beloved and emotionally resonant films of his career.
Costner on the Unlikely Similarities Between Two Very Different Films
At face value, it’s hard to see what a horror film about ancient, menacing creatures has in common with a heartfelt fantasy about baseball-playing ghosts. But for Costner, it all comes down to creative risk.
“It’s very much like Field of Dreams in the sense that we didn’t know if we could pull it off,” he said. “We didn’t know if people were going to, ultimately, at the end of the day, buy people coming out of the corn… and be moved by that.”
What connected the two films in Costner’s mind was the leap of faith required to make them. Both movies hinged on unusual, even bizarre concepts—ideas that could easily fall flat without the right execution. With Field of Dreams, that leap paid off. Audiences embraced the magical realism and emotional core. With The New Daughter, the result wasn’t quite the same.
Why The New Daughter Fell Short
Released in 2009, The New Daughter failed to make an impact with critics or viewers. Part of the problem may have been audience expectations. Costner is widely seen as a symbol of stoic Americana—strong, dependable, grounded. So seeing him vulnerable in a dark supernatural thriller felt like a mismatch for many.
The film was also criticized for its slow pacing and unclear storyline. Its ambiguous ending left viewers confused rather than intrigued. While Field of Dreams offered clarity and heart, The New Daughter left audiences cold.
Ultimately, while both films asked viewers to suspend disbelief, only one managed to strike the right emotional chord.
