In a cinematic landscape oversaturated with post-apocalyptic thrillers, 40 Acres arrives like a bolt of lightning — fierce, grounded, and emotionally resonant. The debut feature from Canadian filmmaker R.T. Thorne is more than just an action survival story. It’s a bold and politically charged meditation on legacy, sovereignty, and the emotional toll of survival, anchored by a riveting performance from Danielle Deadwyler (Till, The Harder They Fall).
Set in a famine-decimated near future where society has collapsed after a global plague wipes out animal life, 40 Acres follows Hailey Freeman (Deadwyler), a former soldier who has carved out a fragile sanctuary on her family’s ancestral farm in rural Canada. Alongside her partner Galen (Michael Greyeyes, Rutherford Falls) and their children, she fends off raiding parties while clinging to a piece of land that holds more than just crops — it holds the promise of generational freedom, a nod to the unfulfilled promise of “40 acres and a mule” made to Black Americans after the Civil War.
Thorne’s direction is confident and purposeful, blending intense action with a slow-burning emotional arc that reveals itself gradually through a series of flashbacks. While this narrative device slightly undercuts the pacing, it enriches the characters and deepens the film’s thematic core. Emanuel (Kataem O’Connor), Hailey’s eldest son, becomes a focal point of emotional conflict when his budding relationship with an outsider (Milcania Diaz-Rojas) threatens the family’s safety and challenges the militant worldview he was raised on.
The film thrives on its performances. Deadwyler delivers yet another tour-de-force, portraying Hailey as equal parts hardened warrior and grieving mother. Greyeyes brings a quiet strength to Galen, grounding the family in moments of turmoil. O’Connor, a breakout, is excellent as the conflicted Emanuel, whose emotional awakening propels much of the film’s tension. Diaz-Rojas, meanwhile, infuses her role with warmth and cautious hope, providing a needed counterbalance to the family’s insular paranoia.
Visually, 40 Acres is stark and immersive. Shot in the remote wilderness of Northern Ontario, the film’s natural backdrop adds an authentic texture to the story’s themes of isolation and survival. Jeremy Benning’s cinematography captures both the harshness of the environment and the small, intimate moments of familial connection. The fight choreography is sharp and impactful, trading over-the-top spectacle for brutal realism.
Adding to the film’s atmospheric power is Todor Kobakov’s haunting score, which weaves together traditional instrumentation with contemporary soul, featuring songs by artists like Jacob Banks, Rema, and K-OS. The music, like the film itself, is both epic and intimate — a soundtrack to both battle and healing.
Director R.T. Thorne’s roots in music video storytelling are evident in his bold visuals, but his feature debut proves he’s just as adept at nuanced character drama. His personal touch is felt in every frame, from his exploration of generational trauma to his refusal to shy away from the political implications of Black and Indigenous sovereignty in a post-collapse world. Thorne’s story, shaped by his own upbringing and deep cultural awareness, becomes a metaphor for survival that is both literal and symbolic.
40 Acres doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it does reforge it — giving weight and urgency to a genre often content with style over substance. It’s an action thriller with a beating heart and a defiant spirit. More than that, it's a vital piece of dystopian storytelling that insists on reclaiming space, voice, and land.
A slow-burn with a sharp edge, 40 Acres is a gripping, soulful debut that elevates the genre with strong performances, potent themes, and a sense of cultural urgency. R.T. Thorne is a filmmaker to watch. And Danielle Deadwyler? She’s simply one of the best doing it.
Jessie Hobson