Starve Acre (2023) - Dont Descent Into But Embrace Darkness - REVIEW
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
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.
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.
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.
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