Starve Acre — scrobble.life

Starve Acre was a movie that got me intrigue for some time not only because the trio that is on this movie with Matt Smith, Morfydd Clark and Erin Richard, so talk about a solid cast but also by its very very low rating from audience online. After watching the movie I'm not disappointed since I had an idea of it not been so great but that's like cheating, when this kind of situation happen I always put myself in a position of how would I feel if I had pay to watch this movie, probably a partial refund or compensation would make me fell better although watching at home made me feel ok about it.

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17521612/
Platform: AppleTV+

Rottentomatoes Rating

Source The movie is a British folk horror that will make you process a lot after its done because its a bit confusing to be hones, you have to put aside the noise and focus on how to put together so then you can be amaze at the end or get that "GOT IT!!" moment when the movie ends. A supernatural folklore tale in the Yorkshire countryside during the 1970s, the movie pays a lot of attention to details from building, custom, cars, the entire environment looks just perfect. Richard and Juliette Willoughby are going through tough times after losing their young son; Ewan, and each parent deals with this loss in their own way. The movie tries to mix psychological horror with folk elements, which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't, making it a bit hard to follow what's really going on.

Richard spends his time digging up a field looking for some old oak tree root that at first he thought it was a fantasy until latter on figure out had a very dark secret that tormented since his childhood, while Juliette is stuck in this cycle of grief that's making her believe their son might come back. There's this whole thing about an ancient oak tree that used to be in their field and at first Richard only finds this weird rabbit skeleton that starts causing all sorts of strange act of supernatural tricks only while on their property. The movie gets really interesting when we see how differently Richard and Juliette handle their loss, he tries to be all scientific about it until it was either his son last request to find the roots or because he start thinking only a miracle or supernatural even can bring him back that's why I think started to look for this oak roots, while Juliette goes deep into this short term spiritual trip.

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Source Even though the movie is not ground braking or something you are going to watch more than twice I think Matt Smith and Morfydd Clark really did a great job at this movie. Smith plays Richard and he does this great job showing a dad who is trying to keep it together while everything falls apart, from this career to his marriage right after loosing his son, he even blame directly his wife for it out of frustration but not because he really believe it, Matt got this way of looking both strong and completely lost at the same time, which really fits the character. Clark as Juliette is just amazing too, she makes you feel every bit of her pain and hope, even when she is doing things that seem crazy, she was really in the middle state. The way these two actors play off each other really shows how grief can pull people apart, it even made me though and look up online how much couples split after loosing a son, apparently the percentage is not too high but this post is not about that, funny enough the fkn rabbit Richard finds it what got them together.

The movie does left questions unanswered, the thing about Starve Acre is that it really tries to do something different with the horror genre and that something to be appreciate but I know there are many who might think the movie did work out. The way it shows grief through both realistic and supernatural ping of view is pretty clever, but still feels like there is something missing, I was expecting more horror, if they could elaborate more on Richard's childhood. The atmosphere is spot on with the Yorkshire setting, the 1970s period details and the creepy vibes from that rabbit skeleton all work together to create this unsettling mood. What doesn't work so well is how the movie sometimes loses focus, jumping between the intellectual stuff by Richard, the family drama and the supernatural elements without really putting the pieces together, even the crazy women who said to be some sort of psychic to help Juliette focus.

Source The ending ties everything pretty well and get rids of everything else that is not supernatural related as it was expected but this might leave a good part of the audience confuse since the middle of the movie did a good job at bringing up certain situations that add nothing to the ending so there is the confusion created. The whole thing with the rabbit skeleton Richard found earlier plays a big part in this supernatural twist, as it seems to be connected to the ancient spirit known as the Hardaker, there was a point that I really though they would bring their dead son to where the oak roots where, probably trying to have him resuscitate for some reason, the rabbit did.

The ending and a book Richard found from his dad prove that it was not just a tale, the whole thing was real just that for some reason only Richard though about excavating looking for the damn roots, the book he found was a complete tutorial to summon this evil spirit that some how gave them purpose specially Juliette, feels like the Rabbit replace her son and this made Richard feel calm about his wife not descending into darkness anymore but to embrace darkness as part of them. It's one of those endings that doesn't give you clear answers but instead leaves you thinking about what happens next to this couple who were so desperate to have their son back that they might have brought something much worse into their lives.

I was not expecting this movie to stick with me, not one I'm going to add to my collection but I was entertained through out the entire movie, the expectation and the waiting for something drastic to happen but it was more like a slow dragging moment. It was creepy enough for my taste, I wish they could have develop more the kid situation, when they buried him and really watch Juliette suffering flourish instead of straight going to bed and close curtains straight away. Matt was awesome at the end, having this fuck it attitude like I don't care what this is as long as my wife is happy with it, the movie gives a good view of how far we can go under sad and stressful situations. I gave it a 7/10 enough for it to be a good one time watch but I guess is a very niche movie that you probably need to watch when ever you are looking for a horror movie that will let you sleep at night and at the same time keep you wondering whats next.

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