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A solidly entertaining post-apocalyptic drama-thriller that nonetheless falls in the “I’ve seen this post-apocalyptic drama-thriller before” camp, 40 Acres is a worthy real estate investment elevated by quality writing, directing, and acting. It may not be groundbreaking, but these kinds of movies don’t need to be to work.
I was going on a diatribe about no one knowing what an acre is, but all I’ll say on that matter is that this movie deserves a better title. Starring Danielle Deadwyler and Kataem O’Connor, the movie is about a militaristic and sheltered family that defends their farm at all costs amidst the disintegration of society. 40 Acres is the best title you could come up with?
Anyway, Deadwyler is as good as you’d expect her to be; despite the type of movie this is, she goes all in, delivering a fierce and menacing performance. O’Connor, who plays her son, is also excellent, while other cast members–Michael Greyeyes, Milcania Diaz-Rojas, and Leenah Robinson, to name a few–also leave their mark.
More importantly, this cast has real chemistry. You believe they care for one another. That they’re a family. That they would do anything to help each other.
That bond comes into play as director and co-writer R.T. Thorne escalates the stakes. What starts as a pretty ordinary survival tale turns into an immensely brutal fight to the death, where you really aren’t sure who is going to live or die. This sense of unpredictability plays to Thorne’s advantage, as he pushes his characters to the limit.
40 Acres isn’t perfect. The story itself is pretty straightforward and nothing we haven’t seen before. The movie would have benefited from a more central menace or threat–all the bad guys blend together. Though it gets pretty violent, the family drama–accentued by a budding romance–feels elementary.
But these faults are relatively minor. Fans of the genre will find plenty to enjoy. You may have seen this post-apocalyptic drama-thriller before, but 40 Acres succeeds thanks to the talent involved.
Review by Erik Samdahl.
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