40 Acres Review – Thrilling, Strong Story Driven Performances, Entertaining

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Category: UK A&E, Lifestyle, Culture

Published on Tuesday, 29 July 2025 10:24

Written by Janet Walker

40 Acres, from Vertigo Releasing, presents an apocalyptic thriller as a family of farmers become targeted by deranged cannibals, after a series of catastrophic events causes the food supply chain to break down leading to global famine.

The film begins with a black slated introduction, so the audiences will understand the deterioration of worldwide events leading up to the present. As the black screen fades we see a row of razor wire, shaking as a group of strangers have cut through the fence and are making their way through the cornfield.

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Suddenly as the strangers get closer to the house, we see a figure with an automatic weapon and begin to hear directions given over two-way radios. Two men enter the barn, and we see a splatter of blood, and then a blade protruding from a man’s stomach. He falls and we see a woman, played by Danielle Deadwyler. Simultaneously, the gun battle erupts outside and as the strangers do the fast break for cover in the cornfields, the family picks them off one by one.

This is when we meet the entire family, Manny Freeman, played by Kataem O’Connor, Galen, played by Michael Greyeyes, Raine, played by Leenah Robinson, Danis, played by Jaeda LeBlance, and Cookie, played by Haile Amare. When Hailey appears, we see she runs a tight ship in this post-apocalyptic world, and to survive she has instilled military style discipline.

The Freeman farm belonged to Hailey’s father, and his father, who settled the land in 1875, after escaping from a plantation in the South. They are the last descendants, and this farm is all they have in this emaciated season. Hailey and her husband, Galen, fight against the to keep their tradition alive.   

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Life on the farm, and especially now, is a routine of checking the fence for intruders, using the ham radio to contact others in their small community of survivors, planting crops, attempting to keep the children on the straight and narrow, teaching them to shot, and survive.

As Manny, Hailey’s son, is reaching adulthood, he is given the responsibility of local medicinal weed drops for Augusta Taylor, played by Elizabeth Saunders, as she explains to Hailey, “You keep the bud growing, and I’ll keep the shine flowing,” The pair have a long history, and she is her only friend.

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On this day, Manny, away from the strictness of his mother’s home, lets loose a bit and enjoys the simplicity of swimming in the local river. Just as he is finished he sees a woman, played by Milcania Diaz-Rojas, about his age, also swimming. This near encounter ushers in the second act.

Augusta explains to Hailey, a large group has been coming through and killing off the local farmers and taking their land. The household is on high alert. As Manny is checking the fence he see the same girl, at the fence. Against his better judgment, he takes her to the barn, where he helps her with her wounds. A couple of days go by, and even as he is still keeping her in the barn, he is captivated by her. Just then both Hailey and Galen walk into the barn.

Through fear and threats of violence, we understand, her name is Dawn, and she is Augusta’s niece, and she needed to find Hailey so they could help her aunt. Whether she is playing them, and she is the seductress or if her story is true Manny is co concerned that his emotions drive him to leave with her during the early morning hours. Even as Galen explains he can handle himself, Hailey is determined to help him and Augusta.

This ushers in the final climatic showdown.

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40 Acres is riveting, and delivers heightened suspense, excellent acting, and a thrilling and entertaining story.

The ensemble is led by Danielle Deadwyler, who gives another brilliant performance alongside Michael Greyeyes, who is familiar to audiences and a strong outstanding second lead. Kataem O'Connor and Milcania Diaz-Rojas embody their roles as star-crossed young lovers and have bright futures. The entire cast draws the audience into their world, where they hope to retain some of the old life, but understand the importance of tradition.

A gripping post-apocalyptic actioner, 40 Acres opens in UK cinemas August 1, 2025. See it.

Country: UK.

Language: English.

Runtime: 113 minutes.

Director: R.T. Thorne.

Producer: Jennifer Holness.

Executive Producer: Taj Critchlow, Danielle Deadwyler, Mark Gringras, Dave Hudakoc, John Laing, Sudz Sutherland, R.T. Thorne.

Writer: R.T. Thorne, Glenn Taylor.

Cast: Danielle Deadwyler, Kataem O'Connor, Michael Greyeyes, Milcania Diaz-Rojas, Leenah Robinson, Jaeda LeBlanc, Haile Amare, Elizabeth Saunders.

Janet Walker is the publisher, founder, and sole owner of Haute-Lifestyle.com. A graduate of New York University, she has been covering international news through the Beltway Insider, a weekly review of the nation's top stories, for more than a decade.  A general beat writer/reporter and entertainment/film critic, she is also an accomplished news/investigative news/crime reporter and submitted for Pulitzer Prize consideration "Cops Conspire to Deep Six Sex Assaults" in the Breaking News Category and was persuaded to withdraw the submission. Ms. Walker has completed five screenplays "The Six Sides of Truth," "The Assassins of Fifth Avenue," "The Wednesday Killer," "The Manhattan Project," and the sci-fi thriller "Project 13: The Last Day." She has also published "Unholy Alliances: A True Crime Story," and "Days, Times, Seasons, Events: A Collection of Poetry & Prose," which can be purchased here. She is a member of the Los Angeles Press Club, the National Writers Union, and a former member of the International Federation of Journalists