While the delivery of the thrills falls into action territory due to the power contests, there is a palatable sense of dread kept up that will satisfy the horror crowd. Thorne is able to achieve the same sinister swerve in his siege that Carpenter did in Assault On Precinct 13, which features similar anonymous masses closing in behind the darkness. The scariest thing about the invaders is how randomly normal most of them look, which makes the fact that they have resorted to eating people all the more chilling.
The lighting throughout 40 Acres is outstanding, especially the sequence in total darkness where the only illumination is from the gunfire. The grittiness of the production design presents a very believable vision of what total economic devastation would actually look like. There is a constant decayed dankness that runs throughout much of the film while never dipping into dreariness. The sickly aura of rotting civilization creates a strong contrast with the naturalism of the woodland sequences. And all the running blood that constantly connects the two.
Danielle Deadwyler unleashes her fury in a knife fight with marauders in 40 Acres, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
“Thorne bets the farm and wins…”
Thorne bets the farm and wins with the performances of the fantastic cast. This is a breakout role for O’Connor as he shows he can act every single angle there is with the meaty role of “Manny,” the son. Greyeyes is a lethal joy, keeping the amusement trickling down a stone wall of deadly seriousness. Robinson makes her dire situation completely believable. LeBlanc gets to show us her range with the highest of highs to as low as you can get. Amare can kill bad guys in the most adorable way. I hope she kills a lot more bad guys onscreen as she grows up. Diaz-Rojas is the perfect post-apocalyptic femme fatale, with her sympathy well earned but with a mysteriousness as to what she will do with it.
Saunders goes in total overalls as a farmer’s farmer, completely embodying that unique agricultural manner. But the whole movie revolves around Deadwyler’s powerhouse acting job. One could compare it to Mad Max, except that character has never been played as well as Deadwyler plays Fed-Up Freeman. Deadwyler gives us a highly nuanced action hero who has to navigate through her own flaws like barbed wire. Her portrayal of paranoia is pulse-pounding, especially since it is so well placed.
See 40 Acres sooner than later, as we are not likely to see the collapse of society done this well until it actually happens.
"…see 40 Acres sooner than later..."
