Surviving on an isolated farm after a series of plagues and wars, a former soldier and her family make one last stand against a vicious militia that wants to take their land.
Director: R. T. Thorne
Cast: Danielle Deadwyler, Kataem O'Connor, Jaeda LeBlanc, Michael Greyeyes, Milcania Diaz-Rojas, Leenah Robinson
Release Date: July 2, 2025 US/August 1, 2025 UK
Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Rated R for strong bloody violent content and language.
Runtime: 1h 53m
Review:
R.T. Thorne's debut film, 40 Acres, is a lean mean apocalyptic thriller that delivers impressive action along with plenty of thematic allegory, powered by a steely turn from Danielle Deadwyler. Initially, there's a sense of familiarity to the proceeding with portions of it echoing the bleakness of 2009's The Road. The family unit here though is a seasoned team ready to defend their land at a second’s moment thanks to the leadership of Danielle Deadwyler's tough as nails Hailey Freeman and Michael Greyeyes Galen's both of whom were former soldiers before becoming a couple after the end of the world. Their relationship is a steady balance of carrots and stick as they prepare their kids to survive in this brutal landscape. They are both overprotective to a fault but it’s all a means to an end to give their offspring the best chance to endure in the future. Deadwyler's hardened stare barely breaks throughout as she serves as a stoic taskmaster for the adopted family. Greyeyes provides a bit more tenderness as a counterbalance to her with book loads of history shared via unspoken looks which gives their relationship an air of realism. The film allows us plenty of time to get to know each of the younger family members with Kataem O'Connor and Leenah Robinson getting the most screentime. O'Connor is solid as the eldest teenage son, full of angst and ready to rebel by exploring beyond the limits imposed by his parents. He brings the right amount of resentment for his mother which is revealed to extend further into the past. On the other side of the coin, Leenah Robinson and Michael Greyeyes have a much more congenial, loving daughter/father relationship with some of their interchanges providing some much-needed moments of warmth. The film methodically establishes the setting and characters before building to its more action heavy finale which boasts a series of well-constructed action sequences highlighted by a moment in a darkened house that's sure to leave an impression. Once it's all said and done, 40 Acres brings together its themes of family, legacy and perseverance in an impressive manner especially since it’s packaged in such a familiar package.
B+
