R.T. Thorne’s 40 Acres is a strong genre-defying debut that seamlessly blends historical drama with post-apocalyptic storytelling. Anchored by a stunning performance from Danielle Deadwyler, the film marks an exciting new chapter for Thorne’s career and delivers a timely message about solidarity and resilience.

R.T. Thorne makes an electrifying leap from television to the big screen with 40 Acres, a feature film debut that immediately announces him as a bold and visionary filmmaker. Known for his previous work directing youth-centered series such as Degrassi and Backstage, Thorne brings an unexpected but much needed level of depth, maturity, and confidence to this ambitious narrative film. What begins as a historical drama quickly morphs into a genre-blending experience. While the tonal shift may seem risky, it’s executed with such precision and clarity of purpose that it enhances the film’s emotional and thematic weight. 

The film centers around the descendants of Black American farmers who fled the United States in 1875 and settled in rural Canada. This aspect of history, although historically rich, is quite underrepresented. The premise alone sets 40 Acres apart in a crowded cinematic landscape, mining real history to tell a speculative yet deeply grounded story. The addition of a post-apocalyptic thread could alienate viewers looking for a strictly historical film. However, the hybrid genre approach gives 40 Acres that unique edge, emphasizing the cyclical nature of oppression and the resilience required to survive across generations. This allows for some truly creative moves with the sound design, lighting, and cinematography that elevate these characters and their current setting.

Danielle Deadwyler, once again, delivers a powerhouse performance as the family’s fiercely protective and strong matriarch, Hailey Freeman. Her portrayal is layered yet understandably strict. Deadwyler’s presence commands every frame, and her ability to internalize a lifetime of struggle and pride brings a poetic gravitas to this role that very few actors of her generation can match. Her chemistry with the other actors helps illustrate the generational tensions and legacies at stake, helping make this film feel deeply personal. The rest of the ensemble is also fantastic to behold. Kateem O’Connor as Hailey’s son, Manny, displays a level of maturity at such a young age with his longing of exploration and how that can lead to selfishness. The always great Michael Greyeyes as Galen is a breath of fresh air, representing the need of keeping tradition alive across multiple cultures. 

This perhaps leads to one of the most compelling aspects of this film; the exploration of similarities and solidarity between historically marginalized communities. 40 Acres doesn’t shy away from drawing parallels between the treatment of Black Americans (United States and Canada) and the Indigenous peoples of this continent. Through movements of shared resistance and resilience along with quiet kinship, Thorne makes a poignant case for ally-ship and unity in the face of systemic erasure. 

This does not mean that 40 Acres is without flaws. After all, it is a horror-ish film. There are character choices made that will result in some groans and anger from viewers familiar with these tropes, i.e., characters blatantly ignoring advice that should seem as part of their daily routine, just to move the plot along. Unfortunately, these choices do pause the narrative storytelling, but those suspensions are minimal and don’t impact that grand result or blur the main message the film is trying to convey.

At a time when divisions are being stoked more than ever, 40 acres is a reminder of the power found in shared histories, and the necessity of building and maintaining bridges between communities. With a 113 minute runtime, this is a must watch feature-film directorial debut. 

Rating: A-

Oscar Prospects:
Likely: None
Should Be Considered: None

Where to Watch: In Select Theaters