Starve Acre

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Starve Acre

Released Jul 26, 2024

1h 38m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

70 Reviews

52%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

When their son starts acting strangely, a couple unwittingly allow dark and sinister forces into their home, awakening a long-dormant ancient evil rooted deep in the countryside.

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Critics Consensus

Matt Smith and Morfydd Clark are terrific as embattled parents in Starve Acre, an upsetting folk horror tale that locates the doom in domesticity.

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David Hughes

Time Out

Although Kokotajlo doesn’t feel entirely at home in the horror genre, he is clearly a talent to be reckoned with. Perhaps he’s at his best when working -- as he did with Apostasy -- with more personal material.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 11, 2024

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

Some pleasingly icky special effects add to the general sense of mouldering menace. Where the picture stumbles, however, is in its almost total lack of effective scares.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 10, 2024

Full Review

Mark Kermode

Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube)

Definitively worth checking out.

Sep 9, 2024

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Chris Joyce

Movies and Munchies (YouTube)

Had the plot divulged more of the background, this folk horror could have been both freaky and memorable. What we get instead is a meandering tale of a family coming apart where the narrative only realizes what it wants to do right at the end.

Rated: 2/5

Mar 12, 2025

Full Review

John Serba

Decider

Starve Acre doesn’t surprise us, or ever truly defy the tropes of the Evil Twigs genre, but it’s a well-made and -acted venture dishing up a few earthy chills.

Mar 10, 2025

Full Review

Lee Zumpe

Tampa Bay Newspapers

“Starve Acre” is exquisitely atmospheric, offering a fever-dream rendering of the power of anguish to fracture us and to dissolve our connection to reality.

Oct 28, 2024

Full Review

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Anthony M

A slow burner that generates a genuine atmosphere of dread.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/20/25

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Christopher H

Technically, 'Starve Acre' is a well-crafted film, though the practical animal effects were somewhat lacking. The acting is strong, and the musical score complements the melancholy atmosphere perfectly. The English countryside setting, which I believe is meant to evoke the 1970s, is beautifully captured. As an American, I found the accents a bit challenging, but the performances seemed solid. However, despite the film's technical merits, the pacing is incredibly slow. The first thirty minutes are particularly uneventful, bordering on tedious. While the cinematography and sound design are sublime, the story itself struggles to maintain interest. And let's be honest, the leading man's appearance is... unique. He resembles a cross between an Easter Island statue and a goblin, with prominent ears that are quite distracting. The film feels like a 'nothing burger' until a sudden, bizarre ending arrives. While logically sound, the conclusion feels abrupt and somewhat nonsensical. I suspect the folktale it's based on might offer a more compelling narrative. In summary, 'Starve Acre' is technically impressive but ultimately hampered by its slow pacing and an odd, unsatisfying conclusion. It's an aesthetically pleasing film, but not one that delivers a particularly engaging story.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/24/25

Full Review

Steven t

Slow and creepy vibe. Felt like an old folk tale.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/21/25

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Fabienne Y

I can’t believe I paid a tenner to watched this. It shocks me how films like this get made. Was so up for a great British horror with Matt smith, thought it was going to be ‘calibre’ vibes. It’s soooooo bad genuinely don’t watch it. Makes no sense and it’s sooo boring.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/15/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Maybe I wasn’t paying close enough attention but I really didn’t get it.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

11/15/24

Full Review

Tom L

Slow burn that created gradually creeping dread, with hints of dark rites and ancient pagan evil. Excellent acting and atmosphere, but the abstract and vague story made for an unsatisfying ending. Nonetheless I enjoyed this film overall.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/31/24

Full Review

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Daniel Kokotajlo

Director

Matt Smith

Richard

Morfydd Clark

Juliette

Erin Richards

Harrie

Robert Emms

Steven

Matilda Firth

Younger Burnsall Sister

Starve Acre: Exclusive Movie Clip - Nervous Creatures

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Starve Acre: Movie Clip - The Price We Pay

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Starve Acre: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

When their son starts acting strangely, a couple unwittingly allow dark and sinister forces into their home, awakening a long-dormant ancient evil rooted deep in the countryside.

Director: Daniel Kokotajlo
Producer: Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell, Derrin Schlesinger, Emma Duffy
Screenwriter: Daniel Kokotajlo
Distributor: Brainstorm Media
Production Co: Access Entertainment, House Productions, British Film Institute (BFI), BBC Film
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 26, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 26, 2024
Runtime: 1h 38m

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