Starve Acre

After watching this film I know what it's like to drown in molasses. I honestly wanted to like this, I love a good folk-horror movie. But it soon became clear that this wasn't good at all. Sure, the actors tried their hardest and I give them credit for that. But they were fighting against the current and it eventually overwhelmed them. I have nothing at all against slow films, I love Last Year At Marienbad but there's a real art involved in holding the viewer's attention at such a pace. You risk sending an audience to sleep if you do it badly. And that's the result here. 4 points for the effort..

When their young son dies a couple's lives are thrown into turmoil and things at their rural home start to get very weird. Some reviewers insist that this is not a horror movie but they are mistaken, Starve Acre is a British folk horror movie. Unfortunately it is not a good one. I will start with the positives - Matt Smith is a very versatile actor and again delivers a good performance. In fact the whole cast are good. I liked the 1970's period setting, the clothes, the old vehicles etc. And I thought that the rural Yorkshire location at times gave off a strong feeling of isolation and bleakness at times. What I did not like was the fact that it felt so slow. There are a couple of small jump scares and the odd feeling of dread but I am not lying when I say that I found my eyes closing numerous times when i saw this last night at my local independent cinema. The struggle to stay awake got harder and harder as it went on, if you suffer from insomnia then watching this at home may well cure you. Then there is a very fake looking hare that becomes central to the plot. I will not give away the ending but there were people laughing out loudly (which I found to be quite disrespectful) in the audience. Britain has produced some fine folk horror movies but this entry is sadly near the bottom of the barrel n terms of quality, quite disappointing.

Writer-director Daniel Kokotajlo has taken a stab at the folk horror genre in his sophomore feature, Starve Acre.

A slow paced tale about how a local legend starts to influence- and take over- the personality of a young boy, that is being raised in this rural setting.

Though, much like we saw previously, in Run Rabbit Run...it's moreso about the psychological affect this change has on his parents...as opposed to the child, himself.

How they, as the one's who are supposed to offer their child unconditional love, are forced to cope with the ordeal that has become the focal point of their, and their child's, life.

As their son becomes increasingly disconnected, and violent.

While claiming to have formed a relationship with an "imaginary" character, from a local folk tale, central to their idyllic little town's lore.

Before succumbing to an asthma attack.

Obviously, dealing with such a situation starts to have an effect on their individual mental health.

On top of their relationship with one another, and the other people in their lives.

Which is precisely what Kokotajlo has set out to explore in this film.

Though, in typical folk horror fashion, things start to take a turn in a wildly different direction.

And start to get weird.

As we learn how what we've been watching unfold, connects back to the land...and their family's ties to it.

As what ensues becomes increasingly more vicious.

Despite the creepily alluring atmosphere that permeates the film...it seems to have rubbed many viewers the wrong way.

Which is, no doubt, a result of it's convoluted plot structure...and the way the film ends.

As it concludes on both a bizarre, and slightly confounding, note.

Which requires that you had paid rather close attention to it's more subtle elements, in order to garner a proper understanding of it.

And truly appreciate it, for what it is.

I rather enjoyed it.

But completely understand why many have taken issue with it, at the same time.

While not perfect...it's a solid little folk horror, that takes it's place alongside titles like The Whicker Man and The VVitch.

Even if it's not quite as laudable as those examples.

If you are a fan of the folk horror genre...this is likely going to be up your alley.

However, if you aren't as acclimated and familiar with this type of film, you might want to pass it by.

I certainly enjoyed it, though.

And must admit...it kept me intrigued, throughout.

6 out of 10.

This is a movie that I only found out about through Dead Meat Presents and it had Matt Smith, so I decided to watch the movie and it was okay.

Positives for Starve Acre (2024): Matt Smith gives a good performance as the father and it's easily the best performance in the movie. The sound design in this movie is genuinely creepy and terrifying. The movie takes its time to get to the big climax and when it gets there, it pays off perfectly.

Negatives for Starve Acre (2024): I wasn't all that invested into this story, but I'm rarely invested into folk horror and I can't remember the last time I was invested into a folk horror story.

Overall, Starve Acre (2024) is a decent enough folk horror movie that will appeal more to fans of this subgenre in horror, but it's still a movie that I would still highly recommend this movie if you're a fan of House of the Dragon like me.

I think this movie deserve more love. As many reviews pointed out already, it is a slow, beautiful, and well-acted movie.

I agree that the pace and lack of visual horrific elements can be problematic for many viewers. Same thing with the mood, which fluctuate between gloomy and very gloomy.

On the other hand it was almost a comforting movie on my side, and for this I think ambiance is the key. There are no shouts or noisy arguments despite the traumas of the characters. The actors quiet and brilliant acting is in tune with the soft unsettling strangeness feeling that looms over the moor.

Give it a try!