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..

"Richard" (Matt Smith), his wife "Jules" (Morfydd Clark) and their young son "Owen" (Arthur Shaw) have moved back to his late father's remote hill farm. Not long after they arrive the young, asthmatic, lad starts to hear a voice that seems to be compelling him to become erratic, even violent. Before his parents get to the bottom of this, though, there's a tragedy that upends their marriage and sees him spend an increasing amount of time doing what he likes to do best - archeology. He is out in all weathers and one day discovers the skeleton of an animal. Meticulously boxing it up, he takes into his study to examine it further. Boy is he in for a surprise and what now ensues takes us all back into his unhappy childhood with a brutish and unloving father and lots of standing about in his underpants. It's starting to look like the folklore surrounding an ancient oak tree that might have been an entrance to the underworld and maybe even the legendary "Dandelion Jack" might be influencing their behaviour as their lives take a turn for the distinctly bizarre. It does fall into place a little at the end, but for the most part this all centres around a jigsaw puzzle of a story with too many bits missing. Even if you do know a little about the underpinning mythology, the narrative still has too many gaps. It might make for a solid enough short film but extending this to ninety minutes puts too much pressure on the underwhelming Smith (and his hair) and the presence of her sister "Harrie" (Erin Richards) for much of their process of grief just doesn't help to create an atmosphere of menace, pity nor, really, of mystery either. There are a couple of wonderfully "Arcati" style performances from local medium "Mrs. Forde" (Melanie Kilburn) but the rest of the drama relies too heavily on it's bleak weather and heavily over-scoring. It's watchable enough, but it reminded me a little of "Enys Men" (2022) - a quirky story that provided us with some bones of the bones of an intriguing story but where near enough meat to sustain much interest.

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.

Yes it was slow but for me I enjoyed the premise, Jack in the Green, Wicker Man stylee.

Atmospheric setting with good acting, I hope the Hare was not unsettled by the nipple scene !

Suspenion of disbelief was easy with the quality of the actors, Matt Smith held his poise and the countryside provided a suffocating atmosphere that caught and held me to the conclusion.

Whenever I watch a film described as horror it's difficult to discern the nature of that type of horror as there are so many different genres but for me this reminds of Hammer films, typically British in its style and delivery.

If you are enjoy atmospheric chillers I would recommend this.

This movie is well done in most regards, but it'll test your patience right up to your breaking point. I don't need or want a horror movie to be action-packed, but there needs to be a progression of things actually happening. This movie is around 60% slow, moody shots of people or things sitting still (think like in a Yorgos Lanthimos film). These kind of shots can work very well when used in moderation, and when that kind of gravity is earned by the plot, but neither is the case here. There are only a handful of times in this movie when something actually happens, and really only two that are relevant to the overall plot. I love atmospheric and creepy horror, but I had a very hard time focusing on this. By the time it finally ramped up a bit at the end (which is the only good part of the movie), I only had a rough idea of what was happening because my mind had drifted so many times during the tedious, slow dialogue that accounts for around 30% of the runtime. This needed to be at least half an hour shorter. The unearned slow parts just make it feel like a half-baked (although very cool) concept with filler to make it a normal runtime.