40 Acres (2025) Review: SIFF 2025

Danielle Deadwyler is having one hell of a year. Between The Woman in the Yard and The Piano Lesson, she’s carving out her space in horror, and her roles just keep getting better. In her latest, 40 Acres, Deadwyler plays Hailey Freeman, a mother trying to protect her family from cannibals in a dystopian America left broken after a civil war. Directed by R.T. Thorne, this film isn’t just about surviving the end of the world, it’s about the lengths we go to for family.

From the very start, the film throws us into its world. Violence and desperation hang in the air. Hailey and her husband Galen (Michael Greyeyes) have taught their kids how to farm, how to protect each other, and yes, even how to kill when necessary. But when word spreads of cannibals targeting nearby farmers, everything they’ve drilled into their children is put to the ultimate test.

While Thorne has plenty of experience behind the camera, 40 Acres marks his feature debut, and it’s a striking one. The cinematography and tone completely immerse you in this post–civil war landscape where survival means making impossible choices. But the heart of the story lies in the clash between Hailey and her son Emanuel (Kataem O’Connor). Emanuel dreams of opening their gates, of believing in something more than fear, while Hailey knows just how dangerous hope can be. That tension keeps the film alive and pulsing.

Thorne’s vision is raw but also deeply beautiful. Deadwyler and Greyeyes are magnetic together, balancing grit, love, and sharp humor in a way that feels both grounded and epic. And you can see Thorne’s music video background in a handful of standout scenes, images that stick with you long after the credits roll.

For a first feature, 40 Acres delivers a gripping story, powerhouse performances, and visuals that demand your attention. This is the kind of debut that makes you excited to see what a director will do next.

40 Acres premiered at SIFF 2025.