Starve Acre Review: Morfydd Clark and Matt Smith Elevate Brooding Folk Horror

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As a seasoned gamer and horror enthusiast, I’ve seen my fair share of atmospheric and unsettling tales. But Daniel Kokotajilo’s “Starve Acre” stands out as a unique and chilling experience that left me both captivated and disturbed.

Daniel Kokotajilo’s retro folk horror film “Starve Acre” creates an ominous and suspenseful mood, hinting at larger mysteries.

In the 1970s rural Yorkshire, England, a couple, Richard (Matt Smith) and Juliette (Morfydd Clark), reside. Their young son exhibits increasingly peculiar conduct, stirring underlying tension between them. Juliette grows agitated by her son’s behavior and Richard’s hesitance to take action. Haunted by his past experiences with his own father, Richard strives to comprehend his son and believes the situation is not as dire as others portray it.

As a gamer, I’ve come across some intriguing lore in this game set in Yorkshire. At first glance, the storyline appears linear and uncomplicated. But as I delve deeper into the mysteries of the countryside, I’m finding that the narrative takes unexpected twists and turns, revealing a much larger and more complex web of events.

The circumstances push the couple further apart, and for Richard, this involves digging into his past under the guise of archaeological research. Meanwhile, Juliette finds herself relying on her sister to deal with life’s upheavals. It seems everyone is having a day as gloomy as the overcast weather outside.

Starve Acre Review: Bleak and Beautiful

Daniel Kokotajilo creates an eerie and heavy atmosphere akin to traditional folk horror. The scene is set in the grim depths of the earth, where the air is thick and damp. The scent of overripe soil lingers in the air. Navigating his intentions may be challenging at times, but this difficulty is all part of building an unsettling sensation.

Folk horror movies face the greatest challenge in making their unique elements feel fresh and original, as audiences bring preconceived notions and expectations based on the genre. Careful integration of new ideas with familiar ones is essential to create an engaging experience.

Starve Acre maintains a solid foundation due to being based on Andrew Michael Hurley’s 2019 novel. It skillfully interweaves chilling folklore with deeply relatable human struggles. Some elements inevitably get altered during the transition from book to film, but Kokotajilo effectively brings the vivid descriptions from the novel to life on screen.

In simpler terms, Morfydd Clark and Matt Smith skillfully express the intricate emotional wounds of their characters using a minimal number of words. Matt’s interpretation of subdued, stubborn sadness is impactful. Nevertheless, Morfydd has a more nuanced role and experiences a more captivating character transformation.

Hare Raising

In this tale, an exceptional animal actor takes center stage and rules every scene. At a particular moment, a giant hare makes an appearance. Due to masterful animatronic techniques, this hare becomes an unnerving presence, despite not being outright terrifying. The camera focuses intently on its eyes for an unsettling length of time, while the hare’s movements possess a strange and otherworldly quality. Consequently, the elongated rabbits appear eerily unsettling in their authenticity.

I was quite engaged with Starve Acre up until the point where the story began to unravel its secrets. While I found the concepts intriguing, the way they were introduced felt disjointed and confusing to me. It seemed that certain details were presented out of order, impacting later revelations. However, I believe this issue may be less pronounced upon a second reading. Nonetheless, it momentarily disrupted the rhythm of the narrative for me.

Instead, I deeply enjoyed the eerie and atmospheric folk horror vibe of Starve Acre. Similar to another more recent horror set in Northern England’s countryside, The Moor, it captures something uniquely British. It’s a hauntingly beautiful and depressing experience that seeps into your bones with its heavy atmosphere.

SCORE: 8/10

According to ComingSoon’s review guidelines, a rating of 8 signifies “Great.” Although there are some small flaws, this grade indicates that the artwork achieves its objective and leaves a lasting impression.

As a passionate gamer, I’m thrilled to share that starting from July 26, 2024, Starve Acre will be available for viewing in certain theaters and digitally. For my friends in the UK and Ireland, mark your calendars for September 6, 2024 – that’s when this anticipated release will hit theaters over there!

Starve Acre screener provided for review.

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2024-07-17 16:41